The Marshall County Commissioners voted to take Veterans Parkway extension off future project lists.
Marshall County Commission President Kevin Overmyer discussed the proposal during the commissioners meeting Monday morning. He said it was “disappointing” that the Plymouth City Council members voted 5-2 to not move forward with the city’s portion of the project. He said it had been the vision of the county back when plans started with the U.S. 31 limited access freeway. He noted that the extension was a part of the vision when INDOT planned to move the old Plymouth Subdistrict office from its former location on 4A Road off of old U.S. 31. Overmyer said a proposed location was in St. Joseph County, but the office was relocated to Jack Greenlee Drive off of Pioneer Drive.
“We wanted this facility to remain in Marshall County,” stated Overmyer. “Myself and Jerry Chavez [former Marshall County Economic Development Corporation President and CEO] traveled to INDOT to speak with Troy Woodruff, who was deputy commissioner at INDOT at the time, and lobbied for this new location where it sits now as shown in this weblink with the anticipation of Veterans Parkway being completed to U.S. 31 which will happen no more.”
He then asked for a motion to take Veterans Parkway off the table and focus efforts on rehabilitating bridges.
Overmyer commented, “I think that since they kinda killed this project, I’m not in favor of going to Oak Road. We have 112-114 bridges in this county and I think we need to refocus on these bridges. Veterans Parkway was in our 2030 road plan which was put together back in 2020.”
Michael Burroughs did make the motion and it was seconded by Stan Klotz and it was approved with a unanimous vote.
Overmyer thanked those who were in support of the project.
