Fort Wayne Mayor Tom Henry and New Haven Mayor Terry McDonald today announced Fort Wayne and New Haven will assume direct bridge repair and maintenance responsibilities for their respective cities.

An interlocal agreement between Allen County and several municipalities expires in October. Under that agreement, Fort Wayne and New Haven pay Allen County each year for bridge repairs and maintenance. In 2017, Fort Wayne paid $1.35 million and New Haven provided $70,000 in funding. However, the request from Allen County for Fort Wayne in 2018 is going to be approximately $2.7 million and almost $470,000 for New Haven, both considerable increases.

The new arrangement for Fort Wayne and New Haven will provide more flexibility and direction on when and how to invest in bridge repair and maintenance projects that will have the most benefit for taxpayers within their respective city limits.

“Thriving cities must have an infrastructure system that works effectively for residents and businesses,” said Mayor Henry. “Preserving our bridges will be an important component of the overall strategy to make needed investments in our transportation network. A strong commitment to enhancing local infrastructure assists us in our efforts to be a point of destination city for economic development opportunities, job growth and unique quality of life amenities.”

“Bridges are essential for our community, and the City of New Haven is dedicated to providing safe and functional bridges for our residents and visitors,” said Mayor McDonald.

There are 95 bridges in Fort Wayne city limits and 20 bridges in New Haven. Future projects will be determined in the coming months.