By JESSICA BRICKER
The aggregate used to fill the space between Ind. 116 and the sidewalk that runs along that highway east of downtown Markle will be removed.
Assistant Town Supervisor Mike Grant told the town council Wednesday that the Indiana Department of Transportation will be putting grass strips down in that space instead.
He also said he begged state officials to pave it — adding striping to indicate it couldn’t be driven or parked on — but the state wouldn’t agree to that.
Reportedly, the original plans when the highway was resurfaced and the town’s sidewalk was extended to Tracy Street in the fall of 2020 included widening of Ind. 116 and a different, more expensive milling material to fill the space between the sidewalk and roadway. Neither of those happened, apparently.
Council member Blake Caley expressed his concerns about the area, noting that not only does the stone end up on the sidewalk and becomes a hazard for pedestrians but the surface is so soft it won’t be able to stop an errant semi.
“We’re just one bad getting-off-the-shoulder (incident) from killing someone,” Caley said.
jessica@news-banner.com
