Indiana highway officials have set next Tuesday as opening day the new U.S. 31 bypass around stoplight-plagued Kokomo.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony with Gov. Mike Pence and other dignitaries is scheduled for Tuesday near the southern end of the new 13-mile stretch around Kokomo's east side.
Highway department spokesman Harry Maginity says the event will be followed by a ceremonial drive to the northern end of the bypass and a reception at the Kokomo Automotive Museum.
Maginity says highway crews will remove barricades and open the bypass to motorists that afternoon.
The bypass will allow drivers to avoid 15 traffic signals on the highway's current route through the city. Work continues of new sections of U.S. 31 near South Bend and Indianapolis to ease congestion in those areas.
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11/21/2013 10:31:25 AM (GMT -5:00)
