A backhoe drops dirt at a work site near the intersection of South Buffalo and West Market Street in downtown Warsaw on Friday, April 12. InkFreeNews Photos by Patrick Webb.

Text and Photos
By Patrick Webb
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — If you see “road work ahead” signs throughout Warsaw, it may be part of ongoing gas line realignment by NIPSCO.

At the Warsaw Redevelopment Commission’s March 5 meeting, the commission approved a nearly $45,000 contract with NIPSCO to relocate service lines for the Millworks project, a multi-use apartment and commercial space at the former Owen’s lot on West Market Street and South Washington Street, before the development can begin work. The gas line may be used for a commercial space in the Millworks building, such as for a restaurant. The project also includes relocating gas lines downtown.

According to Warsaw City Engineer Aaron Ott, NIPSCO “will continue to perform work along downtown streets and alleys throughout May and possibly into June, to relocate underground gas facilities to make room for the Millworks development.”

“(Warsaw) is working with NIPSCO to ensure all disturbances along the routes of the Fat and Skinny Tire Fest are fully restored before May 17,” said Ott.

According to Warsaw Community Economic and Development Director Jeremy Skinner, the Millworks work site is currently being used as a staging ground for the NIPSCO gas line work, including storing broken concrete from downtown for removal at a later date.

Skinner said that part of the Millworks’ timeline revolves around the relocation of utilities.

“The hope is to start the Millworks project sometime in the fall of this year,” he said.