$262M in road projects fuel infrastructure momentum in Elkhart County
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Elkhart County’s transportation network is seeing a historic surge in investment, with more than $262 million in state-backed infrastructure projects planned or underway over the next five years.
That total includes 66 miles of roadway upgrades, 31 bridge and culvert improvements and multiple high-impact capital projects funded through Indiana’s Community Crossings Matching Grant (CCMG) program.
The funding updates were delivered Tuesday during the 29th Annual INDOT Luncheon hosted by the Greater Elkhart Chamber of Commerce’s Transportation Council. The event gathered local officials, engineers, state transportation leaders and business representatives to share project progress and transportation priorities across northern Indiana.
“Both the road system and the movement of goods, services and people are vital to our economy,” said Debra Hughes, co-chair of the Transportation Council. ”There cannot be an efficient movement of goods and services without a good system of roads.”
Transportation Council co-chairs CJ Cunningham and Debra Hughes talk about the work the council does and the importance of good roads for economic development.
The event drew record attendance and featured updates from Indiana Department of Transportation leaders and local officials, who emphasized the importance of collaboration in maintaining and improving the region’s transportation network.
Jason Spreen, INDOT’s Fort Wayne District construction director, outlined several high-profile projects, including the nearly $30 million Sunnyside and U.S. 33 grade separation awarded to Reith-Riley earlier this year and the $41 million Hively Avenue rail crossing, slated for letting in February 2026.
Work on U.S. 33 between CR 34 and CR 40, a $50 million widening effort, is expected to begin in 2028. Other improvements, such as bridge and surface work along SR 13 and ongoing U.S. 20 corridor enhancements, round out the county’s major investments. Spreen noted that fiscal year 2025 will see $44 million in state investment directed to Elkhart County, including through the CCMG program.
Elkhart County’s long-range planning has benefited significantly from consistent success in the CCMG program. The city of Elkhart alone will use $900,000 in CCMG to fund a portion of its $2 million improvements on Benham Avenue, Second Street and other corridors, transforming a couple downtown roadways into two-way streets.
“Over $6 million from six consecutive CCMG grants have gone toward road paving and construction,” said Chris Norvell, director of operations for Elkhart-based ITR Concession Co., which manages the Indiana Toll Road. “More than $12 million in federal aid has been awarded by INDOT in the last six years, with six bridge projects currently under construction.”
Additional local highlights include:
- Bridges & Crossings: CR 142 over Turkey Creek (2025); Baugo Creek near CR 26 (2024).
- Highways: CR 17 upgrade (2026), converting the stretch from CR 38 to US 6 into a limited access super two.
- Municipal Investments: Bristol’s $3.3M in street upgrades since 2020, enabled through CCMG.
Jim Johnson, INDOT’s intergovernmental affairs director, praised the CCMG program, which has funded over 31,000 local road and bridge projects statewide since 2016.
“CCMG is a program that we are very proud of. It has made an incredible impact in communities all across the state since its inception,” Johnson said. “The success of the program really cannot be overstated.”
However, changes are coming. A new law now caps the program’s annual budget at $100 million statewide and increased individual local awards to $1.5 million per fiscal year but officials said local entities rarely request for that much. Now with only one grant round annually, applications for FY2026 will open in October but subsequently, applications will open every July, Johnson added.
Several speakers also pointed to the Pumpkinvine Trail Coalition’s efforts to expand the county’s trail network, which is supported by the Community Foundation of Elkhart County. The initiative aims to better connect neighborhoods, downtowns and parks while encouraging active transportation.
Beyond Elkhart County, state transportation officials provided updates on safety initiatives and planning tools shaping Indiana’s future infrastructure strategy. On the eastern leg of the Indiana Toll Road, Rick Fedder, ITR chief operating officer, said 2025 marks the final construction season of a 10-year, $1 billion overhaul.
“This is 120 lane miles, 26 bridges. We’re doing all this in one single construction season,” Fedder said, noting enhancements such as ITS devices, smart parking and wrong-way driver detection. “Since 2020, that system has literally alerted over 700 drivers moving the wrong way on the toll road,” he said.
Speakers credited the partnership between INDOT, local governments and business stakeholders as the foundation for sustained infrastructure growth.
“The financial collaboration between INDOT and communities is crucial for completion of these projects,” Norvell said. “We thank our legislators who recognize the economic impact of these funds and encourage them to continue prioritizing funding.”
As Elkhart County’s population and logistics sector continue to grow, transportation leaders say the groundwork being laid today is essential for the region’s long-term mobility and economic competitiveness.
INDOT officials reiterated that transportation safety remains a key focus statewide. While much of the new construction will roll out over the next five years, local leaders say long-term planning and consistent funding remain essential to supporting Elkhart County’s growth.
“It’s your road,” Fedder said. “It’s there for a reason, to move goods and services across the state effectively, efficiently and with safety in mind.”