Traffic has been let loose to legally travel the now wider 600E that is decked with shiny new pavement.

Local dignitaries and area residents gathered briefly Friday morning to perform a ribbon cutting to make the opening official. Almost immediately after the “road closed” sign was removed, motorists began using the thoroughfare formerly known as Cass Station Road.

“It’s good to see that ‘road closed’ sign come down,” said Lynn Fry, who lives on 600E and has had to deal with the hassles of road construction. “With the price of gas and having to go all the way around it, it’s been a real inconvenience, but I love that it’s done.”

Cass County Highway Department superintendent Steve Easley expressed his delight about the road’s opening.

“We finally have opened what I know to be a very heavily traveled road,” Easley said. “With what they’ve done with width and the shoulders and drainage, this is just an excellent job that people will be very pleased with for many years to come.”

According to Kurt Courtney, project manager for United Consulting, the lanes have been widened from 10 and 11 feet to 12 feet with the addition of 6-foot shoulders and improved drainage between U.S. 24 and the Wabash River.

New pavement has been applied and two potentially dangerous intersections have been improved. Fry said pulling onto 600E from Country Club Road had been hazardous because of the bend in the road.

“You couldn’t see if someone was coming from this direction,” she said. “You just had to get out here as far as you could and just take off because it was kind of a blind corner. As soon as they got this hill done, you could see so much better. You can pull out here and look this way and see forever to know how to pull out.”

United Consulting handled the design and construction engineering. E&B; Paving was the contractor.

Easley admitted that, to Cass County residents who used the road on a daily basis, the project probably seemed like it took forever.

The initial completion date was Sept. 19 but because of a drainage issue caused by an unexpected amount of limestone beneath the surface, the project was delayed about 10 weeks.

Deichman Excavating actually started their work on Feb. 17. The road was officially closed to through traffic on April 17. On May 20, the stop work order was issued to resolve the limestone issue. Work resumed on July 26 and the overall budget number was increased.

Project cost totaled just over $2.1 million, with Cass County’s share coming in at $429,200. The remaining cost was covered by federal highway funds.

The road opened sooner than expected because of the unusually warm weather.

“We had a really good run of good weather there,” Easley said.

Materials such as pavement and road stripping become harder to work with in colder weather, Courtney said.

Regarding residents along 600E, Cass County commissioner Dick Rusk said he understands there were hassles, and he hopes the wait was worth it.

“I realize there’s been some inconveniences during the construction phase, but I think they have a lot to be happy with and a lot to be proud of,” Rusk said. “I just think it’s a great addition to the highway system in Cass County.”

County Road 600E connects Logansport Road to U.S. 24 and U.S. 35, and allows motorists easy access to the major retail area in Logansport.

“This is going to become a major thoroughfare and entryway into Logansport Road and the east end of Logansport,” Rusk said.

Cass County residents who live in Walton, Lincoln, Galveston, Anoka and Lewisburg have used this road for many years to access not only the retail areas but also many other locations in and around the Logansport and Cass County, Easley said.

“We would like to thank the residence of Cass County for their patience and cooperation throughout this project. We would also like to extend a special thanks to the residents who live on 600E who were impacted by this construction. We know this completion date has seemed like a long time coming from their perspective.”

A final inspection has to be completed along with some work on residential areas affected by the construction. Easley assured residents the work is nothing that will slow down traffic.

The speed limit is going to stay at 45 mph, the same as before the improvements.

“We talked to the design folks, United Consulting, and they said the road is designed for 45, so we’re going to leave it at that,” said Easley of the portion from U.S. 24 before it transitions into 35 mph closer to Logansport Road.

Work is finished on improving the intersection of Logansport Road and 600E. There is now a turn lane for motorists going south from Logansport Road onto 600E. The intersection has also been raised to improve visibility.

Rusk said it has been about six years since the first public meetings were held regarding the project.

“I’m really exited about seeing this project come to completion,” Rusk said. “It’s a safer road. It’s a pleasant road. It’s a modern road. It makes you feel like you’re going someplace important.”

Kevin Lilly can be reached at (574) 732-5117, or via e-mail at kevin.lilly@pharostribune.com