The Board has received some communication from the City of Fort Wayne regarding upcoming work they will be performing between our neighborhood and Bluffton Road:
“As you probably know, Fort Wayne City Utilities is currently making the largest investment ever in our sewer system through the Tunnel Works Program. The five-mile-long deep rock tunnel and associated infrastructure, such as drop shafts and consolidation sewers, will significantly reduce the amount of diluted sewage that is discharged to our rivers each year and will have a significant impact for generations to come.
The fenced worksite at Foster Park is the most upstream location of the tunnel. It is the place where the tunnel boring machine ended up digging the tunnel at a level approximately 220 feet below ground. The proposed project coming to your area will connect the combined sewer in your neighborhood to the tunnel.”
Future plans for the sewer project will impact a portion of the land between Bluffton Rd. and Manito Blvd., as well as Manito Blvd. itself. These plans include removing some of the trees, drilling/opening up portions of Manito Blvd., and erecting some type of structure(s) for utility management.
The City of Fort Wayne has promised to use all possible caution to avoid any damage to our entrance monument, and if any damage does occur, they will pay for repairs. We have also asked them to take into account sound mitigation provided by the trees, and replace them with something that will continue to keep our neighborhood quiet and protected from traffic and other noise.
The City estimates the project will begin in January-February 2024, and take 10-12 months.
Additional information about the impact on our neighborhood will be coming from the City of Fort Wayne when they have selected a contractor. The city is sending notifications to neighbors closest to the affected area, so watch your mailbox!
For more information about the City of Fort Wayne’s tunnel project:
https://www.cityoffortwayne.org/218-tunnel-project-website.html