Ceremonial shovels wedged into the soft ground on the city’s south side symbolize more than the start of just another road project.
On Monday, city and county officials as well as project contractors gathered in an area between Crawfordsville Family Vet and Buffalo Wild Wings to commemorate the beginning of the Purple Heart Parkway extension project.
“Today may seem like we are merely starting another roadway project, but it’s actually a bold move that will shape and redefine the very future of Crawfordsville and Montgomery County,” Crawfordsville Mayor Todd Barton said.
The extension project will connect US 231 South to Ladoga Road, serving as a critical component in several community development initiatives. The extension is anticipated to play a pivotal role in supporting ongoing and future expansion projects.
“The first leg of the Purple Heart Parkway has proven its worth and this extension will be an even more powerful catalyst for future development in Crawfordsville and Montgomery County,” Barton said. “This new roadway will open up nearly 1,000 acres for single-family housing, multi-family housing and retail development while moving traffic in an efficient and safe manner. In fact, this new roadway is a key component to numerous new projects that are in the pipeline, ready to flourish once this key piece of infrastructure is in place.”
The project is a joint effort between the city and the county.
“This project with the city has taught as how to work together,” Montgomery County Commission President John Frey said. “We’ve never actually had this kind of joint infrastructure project before.”
The project comes with a total estimated cost of $5,344,598. The city and county received a $2.3 million grant from the state’s READI funds program. The remaining balance will be evenly split between the city and county.
“The extension of Purple Heart Parkway to Ladoga Road is a major step forward in preparing for logical, planned growth in Crawfordsville and Montgomery County,” Barton said.
Construction work has already commenced, with Crider & Crider serving as the contractor for the project. The project is scheduled to be substantially complete by this fall, paving the way for enhanced connectivity and economic growth in the community.
