The City of Fort Wayne is receiving a major federal investment to help rehabilitate the Ewing Street Bridge and improve a key downtown corridor.

Mayor Sharon Tucker and the Fort Wayne Public Works Division announced the U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded the city a $15.66 million BUILD grant for the project. The funding is expected to cover about 90 percent of the total project cost.

The 261-foot Ewing Street Bridge carries roughly 14,300 vehicles each day over the St. Marys River. City officials say without repairs, the bridge could face weight restrictions or closure within the next decade.

The project will focus on rehabilitating the existing bridge structures, preserving components that remain strong while reinforcing areas that need attention. The improvements are expected to extend the bridge’s lifespan by about 50 years. Plans also include adding multi-use paths for pedestrians and bicyclists.

The project will also upgrade about four blocks of Ewing Street between Jefferson Boulevard and Main Street. Improvements will bring the roadway in line with other downtown corridors while making it safer and more accessible for drivers, transit users, cyclists, and pedestrians.

Additional upgrades include installing sensors in the bridge pavement to collect data during construction and adding smart video detection technology at the Jefferson and Washington Boulevard intersections to improve safety monitoring.

City leaders say the project comes at an important time as private development continues in the nearby North River District.

Design work is expected to begin in 2027, with construction planned for 2030 or 2031. The project is expected to be completed by 2033 or 2034.

The city thanked Representative Marlin Stutzman, Senator Jim Banks, and Senator Todd Young for their support in helping secure the federal grant.