Mayor Tom Henry, members of the Fort Wayne Redevelopment Commission, staff members from Public Works and City Utilities, joined businesses and residents to cut the ribbon and celebrate the completion of the comprehensive infrastructure improvement of Maysville Road between Meijer Drive and Stellhorn Road.

The group gathered near the new trail in front of the Taylor Chapel United Methodist Church, where the addition of a turn-lane is a welcome sight.

“Making investments in our local transportation system continues to be a top priority,” said Mayor Henry. “The infrastructure improvements that have been made along Maysville Road enhance Fort Wayne’s position as a leader in job growth, economic development opportunities, providing excellent quality of life amenities, and strengthening neighborhoods with multiple connectivity options for various forms of transportation.”

Maysville Road was mostly farmland 25 years ago. Upon the completion of Interstate 469, in 1995, growth was expected to occur, but it took time. The one two-lane road between I469 and Stellhorn Road was able to handle the traffic volumes until the early 2000s. But occupancy in the area multiplied over the past 15 years, and became home to more than 80 businesses and retail operations, churches, homes and apartments.

That growth led to the Maysville Road improvement project that added travel lanes, a center turn lane, a trail and sidewalk with bridges, landscaping and decorative lighting above ground. Below ground, infrastructure was upgraded to meet current and future needs with new water mains, sanitary sewers and stormwater pipes.

The $5.5 million investment is supported with tax increment financing funds, generated only through the property taxes paid from businesses located in the Maysville-Stellhorn Economic Development Area.

“These funds are invested in infrastructure improvements that will serve the entire community and act as a catalyst for business growth. They are in addition to dollars coming from the City’s general fund that support infrastructure improvements throughout Fort Wayne’s neighborhoods,” said Nancy Townsend, Director of the Redevelopment Commission.

Tax increment financing districts support projects in every corner of the community. From Ardmore Avenue, near the airport, to portions of the Pufferbelly Trail, to infrastructure support for Summit Park l & ll, the Costco/Kelly Automotive area, Southtown Center, Hatfield Road and Persistence Drive industrial area.

Major projects under construction in Fort Wayne this week:
Ardmore Avenue
Columbia Street Streetscape
Dupont Road
Harris Road Intersection
Hillegas Road & Coliseum Blvd Intersection Improvements
Lower Huntington Road Sidewalk Project – Hickory Creek Rd to Bluffton Rd North Clinton Street Sidewalk Connection
Pine Valley Addition, Phase 2, Concrete Street Repairs
Reed Road Sidewalk Connection, Phase 1
St. Joseph Center Road – Clinton Street to Campus Court
State Blvd Phase II – Clinton to Cass
Caribe Colony neighborhood concrete project
Deerfield Estates neighborhood concrete project
Greater McMillen Park neighborhood concrete project
Edsall Avenue Bridge
Stonehedge Boulevard Bridge
Alley – between Lynn, Dodge, Rolston, Beacon
Alley between W. Wallace, W. Masterson, Webster, Calhoun
Brick Alley between Beaver, Indiana, Wildwood, Kinnaird
Summerfield water main replacement
Crestwood Colony water main replacement
North Clinton water main replacement
Karen Avenue & Kingsley Drive Stormwater improvements
Louisedale Drive Stormwater improvements
Schoppman Drain Stormwater improvements
Haffner Drive Phase ll Stormwater impprovements
Aboite Meadows Stormwater project – final restoration phase