Truth Staff

ELKHART — It’s a little easier to maneuver around the Lexington Avenue-S.R. 19 intersection on the west side of Elkhart.

Lexington Avenue had been closed on the east side of S.R. 19 as part of the ongoing S.R. 19 upgrade. But the roadway was reopened at the spot Tuesday, the Indiana Department of Transportation said in a press release.

Still, restrictions apply. For now, left turns for both northbound and southbound S.R. 19 traffic are prohibited onto Lexington Avenue. Right turns onto Lexington Avenue are allowed.

Moreover, INDOT said motorists should alter their routes to avoid left turns all along S.R. 19 between the St. Joseph River and Beardsley Avenue to prevent potential backups caused by autos waiting to turn.

Lexington Avenue was closed on the east side of S.R. 19 on Sept. 8 so the crossing could be rebuilt, part of the S.R. 19 upgrade. The S.R. 19 plans call for the addition of a center turn lane along much of the roadway between Beardsley Avenue to the north and Lusher Avenue to the south.

Currently crews are rebuilding the eastern lanes of S.R. 19 between the St. Joseph River and Beardsley Avenue and that part of the project should be done by the end of November.

The project should be done by the summer of 2014.