Schedule

Project Location
The US 31 Kokomo Corridor Project is located primarily in Howard County, Indiana. The project begins at Tipton CR550 and continues around the eastside of Kokomo to one mile north of the north junction of US35 at Howard CR450. The project corridor traverses the City of Kokomo and Center Township, as well as portions of Clay, Howard, Taylor, and Harrison Townships in Howard County. One mile of the project extends into Prairie and Liberty Townships in northern Tipton County.

Existing Conditions
The current US 31 facility represents a bypass of the original US 31 route that once passed through downtown Kokomo until 1952. Through the project area, existing US 31 is a four-lane divided roadway that includes 15 signalized intersections, three bridges, and three at-grade railroad crossings. There are approximately 140 minor cross-street and private property access points to US 31.

The land use along the central portion of US 31 in Kokomo is dominated by large retail and industrial developments such as the Delphi Automotive Systems plant, the southern Daimler-Chrysler Transmission plant, Markland Mall, and Kokomo Mall. The southern portion of the corridor is dominated by residential development while the northern portion primarily consists of agricultural land with the exception of the northern Daimler-Chrysler Transmission plant.

History
Statewide Perspective
The need for transportation improvements in the US 31 corridor has been recognized by the State of Indiana for more than ten years. In 1992, INDOT initiated an in-depth study of alternative projects and strategies to improve north-south traffic flow along the US 31 corridor through the greater Kokomo area. This Major Investment Study (MIS), completed in 1995, evaluated a wide variety of options to improve the US 31 corridor, including new alignments. The final recommendation of the MIS called for an upgrade of the existing US 31 facility to urban freeway standards. The recommended upgrade designated a series of interchanges at major cross-streets within the study corridor.

Local / Regional Perspective
In 1991, traffic congestion along US 31 had intensified to a point that the Kokomo-Howard County Governmental Coordinating Council (GCC) acknowledged the problem and adopted the upgrade of US 31 into their 1991 Transportation Policy Plan. The 1995 MIS recommended upgrading the existing US 31 facility to freeway standards which was endorsed by the GCC and adopted into their Long Range Transportation Plan for Kokomo and Central Howard County for 1995 to 2015. Following the MIS, the local businesses expressed concern and opposition over the potential impacts that would be associated with upgrading US 31. As a result, the Kokomo-Howard County GCC lifted their endorsement of the existing corridor upgrade alternative.

In February 2000, the Kokomo-Howard County GCC adopted a long-range transportation plan update for the years 2000 to 2025 that included a recommendation for a US 31 east bypass. The GCC subsequently formed a US 31 Task Force comprised of local officials and business leaders to identify and address local issues relating to future US 31 improvements. In August 2000, based on the recommendations of the group, the GCC adopted Resolution 2000-3: Resolution for Communicating US 31 Priorities to the Indiana Department of Transportation for Consideration in an Environmental Impact Study of US 31 in Howard County.

Purpose and Need

Improve the level of safety for motorists along the US31 corridor

Reduce traffic congestion and travel time within the US31 corridor

Provide for reliable and efficient movement of commerce and regional travel
(consistent with long-range plans)