ELKHART – The city’s board of public works approved proposals that will provide the $1 million for the Prairie Street overpass project.

The board approved a request to appropriate $500,000 from the city’s water utility fund to the construction project. The board also approved a request to establish a lease agreement in which the city and utilities will borrow $500,000 from the city’s Major Moves funds. The money will be repaid by August of 2018 through the waste water capital fund.

The action was taken Tuesday, Feb. 19.

The overpass project is tentatively slated to begin in about a year and will include a large amount of utility and street improvements in and around the South Main and Prairie street intersection.

According to a report issued by the city, officials expect to see about $623,000 in waste water improvements, $550,000 in storm water improvements and $688,000 in water utility improvements.

The city is expected to provide about $3.2 million for a local share in the $20 million project. The majority of the funding is coming from the federal government.