Purdue perimeter work continues

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - Completion of Purdue's Perimeter Parkway may be 30 years down the road, but West Lafayette is taking steps now to move the project forward.

The city is continuing engineering on Phase 1-A of the project which will create a loop around Purdue's campus. Dave Buck, West Lafayette Engineer, said this stage will expand Harrison Street to four lanes to connect with the new U.S. 231 when it reaches the campus.

"It improves the ability," said Buck. "The mobility of campus of people who commute to campus so that people who commute to campus, either they're there to go to work or to go to class, need go no further than the ring, commute to a parking garage on the ring, get on transit or walk to their destination from that point for the entire day."

Construction of phase 1-A could begin as early as 2010. Buck said the plan is to use as many existing roads for the loop as possible. He said the more than $30 million project will be funded mostly by federal dollars. The remaining 20% will be split between the city of West Lafayette and Purdue University.