The City of Fort Wayne is seeking $16,200,000 in BUILD funds for the Ewing Street Bridge and Road Project for two related components that have significant local impact to create a better-connected road network in the urban core for vehicles, transit, and non-motorists, reflecting downtown’s growth and development.

The Ewing Street Bridge is 261.5 feet long with two bridge structures separated by a 1-inch gap

The bridge component replaces a bridge that carries approximately 14,300 vehicles daily and would need to be closed in about a decade without improvements. Engineering focuses on structural integrity and updates to the two bridge structures without replacing what is still safe to use.

With between 4,200 to 5,500 vehicles daily, the road component completes arterial roadway updates in that section of downtown using enhancements for vehicles, transit users, bicyclists, and pedestrians.

As the downtown riverfront known as the North River District develops with new projects and increased use, bridge repairs become more urgent as this bridge has about 10 years left before it would need load limitations or potential closure to reflect compromised structural conditions, just as the North River area starts to see significant private investment and revitalization. The bridge component will rehabilitate the aging structures for safe operations for another 50 years.

The technology improvements with the in-pavement sensors on the bridge and smart video detection at the Jefferson and Washington intersections on Ewing Street also bring new and useful technology to downtown with the sensors providing value during construction and the cameras improving safety over time.