COLUMBUS, Ind. — Changes to the State Street construction project that will more than double design costs, and change the pedestrian route to enhance safety have been approved by Columbus City Council by a vote of 6 – 1. Frank Miller cast the lone dissenting vote.
The new plan will create an urban trail from Mill Race Park to East Columbus using Fifth Street, California Street, and Third Street to get to State Street. The original plan directed pedestrians down Third Street, a much busier corridor. The changes increase the city’s contract with United Consulting Engineers from $717,000 to $1.6 million.
Indianapolis-based Rundell Ernstberger, will develop the preliminary and final conceptual design for the Fifth Street portion of the project at a cost of $49,900.