The Fulton County Chamber of Commerce and local officials celebrated the opening of the Apache Drive extension from Rouch Place Drive to SR 14 in Rochester with a ribbon-cutting on Friday, Aug. 2.

Text and Photos
By Leah Sander
InkFreeNews

ROCHESTER — The extension of Apache Drive from Rouch Place Drive to SR 14 is officially complete in Rochester.

The Fulton County Chamber of Commerce had a ribbon-cutting on Friday, Aug. 2, with local officials to celebrate the road’s opening.

The project cost approximately $3.2 million, with $1 million coming from the state’s first round of Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative funds. Fulton County contributed $500,000, with Rochester adding $1.7 million.

Leaders noted last fall around the time of a groundbreaking that the project both improves road connectivity in the area ahead of any changes being made to nearby US 31 and allows for economic development along the new stretch of road.

On Friday, Rochester Mayor Trent Odell couldn’t give specific details regarding what type of development leaders were hoping to bring in, but said they “were looking at a lot of options until we know exactly what we’re looking at for sure.”

Odell noted land by the road was still owned by local resident Dr. Ken Hoff, with him also obviously having a say on any development.

Hoff called the extension completion “a great thing for the city.”

Fulton County Commissioners’ Vice President Rick Ranstead highlighted the cooperation between the city and county on the project.

“It’s been a long time coming and we’re glad to see it done,” added Commissioners’ member Dave Sommers. “Hopefully this will bring on some developments and business for us.”

Odell said he did advise people not to speed on the extension as the city prefers not to have to install many stop signs there.

Ranstead said he thought sidewalks along the extension would give kids in the area a safer route to Rochester Community Schools, helping to keep “them off the highway there.”

Odell said he’d communicated with RCS Superintendent Jana Vance about adding better signage in the area for school crossings across SR 14, though the Indiana Department of Transportation also had to OK measures on the state road.

“There’s going to be a lot of traffic from The Outlet Youth Center and from Country Meadows (Manufactured Home Community) going across to the school and so forth,” said Odell.

“We’re going to add some sidewalk right there to the (Rochester) Learning Center to make a connection,” he added.

“At the crossing, we’ll have some lit parameter crossing signs that you can’t miss, so we’re going to hope people will respect that crossing,” said Odell.

A view of where the road connects to SR 14.