Officials from INDOT host a hearing on a plan to expand highway in Middlebury

MIDDLEBURY, Ind. – Plans were announced by the Indiana Department of Transportation at a public hearing regarding an expansion to a four mile stretch of U.S. 20 between State Road 15 and County Road 35 in Elkhart County.

The purpose of the project is to upgrade the road from a single-lane road in each direction to a double-lane road in each direction with a middle left turn lane and two paved shoulders for buggy traffic.

“What we heard from the majority of the community is that this project is very needed. Some people who have lived on this stretch of road have seen it really get much busier,” Nichole Hacha-Thomas said, the INDOT Northeast Media Relations Director. “They understand that while we may need to take some property to expand that right of way, the overall benefit at the end for the project will be worth it.”

The deal has yet to be finalized but officials say it would impact 19 homes, two businesses and four farms.