VALPARAISO | Construction plans for the improvements to North Calumet Avenue at Cumberland Crossing shopping center are approved, and the project is ready for the expected spring start of work.

The plans were approved Thursday by the city's Board of Public Works and Safety. Engineering Director Tim Burkman said the road will be widened to provide a center turn lane between Vale Park Road to Bullseye Lake Road, curbs, gutters and decorative lighting. A traffic signal at Cumberland Crossing Drive will be installed this fall.

All the improvements, including landscaping, will be done on the west side of the road. The city hopes to do similar improvements on the east side at some time in the future, Mayor Jon Costas said. The board asked Burkman about the possibility of eliminating the utility poles along the west side.

Burkman said the utility companies estimated the cost to bury the lines at over $1 million, which would more than double the estimated $980,000 cost of the project. Stuart Summers, executive director of the city's Redevelopment Commission, said several other options were discussed with the utilities.

The commission considered the option of eliminating the overhead lines that cross the street by burying them as part of the road work. That would have cost about $250,000, and Summers said the commission decided, if it has money available, it prefers to use it for landscaping to help hide the utility poles and lines.

Relocating the lines behind the WiseWay and other businesses on the east side was a problem because of a Verizon trunk line and because the city doesn't own the right of way, Summers said. NIPSCO will relocate four poles on the west side at no cost as part of the widening project because they are in the city right of way.

The project also will include drainage work that will tie into the storm sewer for Cumberland Crossing. That line carries the water to detention ponds to the west and will help alleviate flooding on the east side such as occurred during the heavy rains of Sept. 13 to 14.

Federal funds will pay for 80 percent of the North Calumet project, and the redevelopment commission is funding the city's 20 percent share.