Crawfordsville will receive more than $2 million in federal money to extend Schenck Road to State Road 32 beginning in 2025 or early 2026, the Indiana Department of Transportation announced Wednesday.
The project is part of the city’s plan to spur new housing and industry on the south side as LSC Communications expands operations at the Sloan Street plant.
The $2.38 million grant, which will be awarded in the summer of 2025, provides 80 percent of construction costs for the project. Some of the city’s portion of the funding may be generated through a TIF district being formed on the south side.
The Crawfordsville South Industrial Economic Development area would stretch from Wabash Avenue to South Boulevard, west to Schenck Road and east to Mill Street.
With most of the funding secured, the city can begin the design process and other preliminary work before ground is broken on the extension, INDOT spokesman Scott Manning said. INDOT will also help fund design, engineering and other pre-construction steps.
Once Crawfordsville and INDOT reach an agreement, contracts can be awarded for the preliminary work, Manning added.
Crawfordsville was one of more than 50 rural Indiana cities, towns and counties to receive funds for road, bridge and sidewalk projects in the latest round of federal transportation grants.
Across the state, the funds will pay for bridge replacement and maintenance, road paving, sidewalks, handicap-accessibility ramps, trails and safety projects.
