LEGAL NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING Proposed intersection improvement at State Road (S.R.) 23 and Adams Road in Harris Township, St. Joseph County, Indiana DES# 2003096: The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) will host a public hearing on March 24, 2026, at the Granger Missionary Church, 50841 Birch Road, Granger, Indiana 46530; there will be an open house session starting at 5:30 PM ET, and the public hearing presentation will begin at 6 PM ET. The purpose of the public hearing is to offer all interested persons an opportunity to comment on current preliminary design plans to modify the intersection at S.R. 23 and Adams Road in Granger, St. Joseph County, Indiana. The purpose of the project is to improve the level of service and safety of the intersection. As proposed, the project involves the construction of an intersection improvement at S.R. 23 and Adams Road. The preferred alternative includes the re-alignment of Adams Road to the north and the construction of a single lane roundabout approximately 250 feet northeast of the existing intersection location. The project will include permanent lighting at the roundabout and stormwater drainage improvements including the extension of a stormwater drainage pipe under S.R. 23, approximately 650 feet south of Birch Road, the removal or abandonment of an existing stormwater pipe under Adams Road and the installation of a new pipe under the proposed re-aligned section of Adams Road, and the in-kind replacement of an existing driveway pipe south of Adams Road. Approach work on S.R. 23 would begin approximately 280 feet east of Mason James Road and end approximately 300 feet southwest of Birch Road. Approach work on Adams Road would extend approximately 500 feet east of S.R. 23. The total length of the project would be 0.379 mile. The Maintenance of Traffic (MOT) plan will require phased construction. Phase 1 will consist of the construction of the south/east portion of S.R. 23, Adams Road, and a portion of the roundabout. Phase 1 will shift S.R. 23 traffic to one side of the road while widening takes place on the other side and the Adams Road approach is constructed. Temporary closure of Adams Road will be needed to complete the connection during Phase 1 and will likely remain closed to through traffic until the subsequent MOT phases are completed. Phase 2 will include the construction of the north half of S.R. 23 and the remainder of the roundabout. Phase 2 will place traffic on the newly widened pavement while constructing the opposite side. Phase 3 will shift traffic to the outside pavement while the splitter islands and center island are completed. Temporary pavement and temporary barrier walls will be necessary for all phases. Birch Road will be utilized to maintain traffic flow between S.R. 23 and Adams Road during all phases. Construction will last approximately 7 months. Access to adjacent properties will be maintained at all times. Project stakeholders including local school corporation(s) and emergency services will be notified of potential closures and/or detours prior to any construction. Construction is anticipated to commence in Spring 2028. The project may require up to 1.53 acres of new permanent right-of-way and up to 0.3 acre of temporary right-of-way. No residential or business relocations are proposed. The project may permanently impact up to 0.002 acre of emergent wetlands (likely an exempt, isolated “Water of the State”). Compensatory mitigation for wetland impacts are not anticipated to be required and will be verified during the permitting process. Additionally, up to 3.52 acres of non-wetland tree clearing may be required. Compensatory mitigation related to impacts to bat habitat is anticipated. Federal and state funds are proposed to be used for construction of this project. INDOT and the Federal Highway Administration have agreed that this project poses minimal impact to natural environment. A Categorical Exclusion (CE) Level 3 environmental document has been prepared for the project. The environmental documentation and preliminary design information is available to view prior at the following locations: 1. Mishawaka-Penn-Harris Public Library - Harris Branch 51446 Elm Rd., Granger, IN 46530 (574) 259-5277 2. INDOT Northwest District 315 Boyd Blvd, LaPorte, IN 46350 (855) 464-6368 A project webpage will be created prior to the public hearing to ensure project information is available on-line via the project sponsor’s web page: bit.ly/SR23AdamsRd. In addition, project information, including the environmental document, may be mailed upon request. Notice of Livestreamed Public Meeting/Hearing: In accordance with Indiana Code 5-14-1.5-2.9, INDOT is offering livestreams of all public meetings and hearings. You must register at the following link in order to participate in the livestream: bit.ly/SR23AdamsLivestream. During the hearing, comments from livestream attendees will only be accepted in written electronic format, not verbally. A recording of the livestream and the presentation will be posted on INDOT’s website following the hearing. The livestream recording will also be available on the INDOT YouTube page. The recording will be available online for at least 90 days. Public statements for the record will be taken as part of the public hearing procedure. All verbal statements recorded during the public hearing and all written comments submitted prior to, during and for a period of two (2) weeks following the hearing date, will be evaluated, considered and addressed in subsequent environmental documentation. Written comments may be submitted prior to the public hearing and within the comment period to Ryan Scott, Butler, Fairman and Seufert, Inc., 500 East 96th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46240, or rscott@bfsengr.com. INDOT respectfully requests comments be submitted by April 7, 2026. With advance notice, INDOT will provide accommodations for persons with disabilities with regards to participation and access to project information as part of the hearings process including arranging auxiliary aids, interpretation services for the hearing impaired, services for the sight impaired and other services as needed. In addition, INDOT will provide accommodations for persons of Limited English Proficiency (LEP) requiring auxiliary aids including language interpretation services and document conversion. Check the INDOT Northwest Facebook page for updates in the case of inclement weather. If the public hearing is postponed due to inclement weather, it will be rescheduled for March 31, 2026, at the Granger Missionary Church, 50841 Birch Road, Granger, Indiana 46530. An open house would begin at 5:30 PM ET followed by a hearing presentation at 6 PM EST. The public comment period would be extended to April 14, 2026. This notice is published in compliance with: 1) Code of Federal Regulations, Title 23, Section 771 (CFR 771.111(h)(1) stating, “Each State must have procedures approved the FHWA to carry out a public involvement/public hearing program.”; 2) 23 CFR 450.210(a)(1)(ix) stating, “Provide for the periodic review of the effectiveness of the public involvement process to ensure that the process provides full and open access to all interested parties and revise the process, as appropriate; and 3) The INDOT Project Development Public Involvement Procedures Manual approved by the Federal Highway Administration on July 7, 2021. HSPAXLP 3/10, 3/17/2026