Kokomo Mayor Matt McKillip says while the new US 31 project will bring more business to the area, the city needs a more progressive planning department to keep up with the changes.
McKillip says planning departments and county officials in the past have allowed Kokomo highways to become confusing, something he says can’t happen again. State and local officials announced Friday they had received final federal approval for the construction of a new US 31 bypass that will go around the eastern side of Kokomo. McKillip says he still has to resolve how local government will pay for maintenance of the existing US 31 if and when they take over ownership.
Cost of the US 31 project is estimated at $344 million . Construction will begin in 2009.
