LAKEVILLE, Ind. (AP): A small town in northern Indiana is preparing for big changes when it loses thousands of drivers passing through each day with the opening of a new stretch of U.S. 31.

Lakeville officials say up to 27,000 vehicles a day now take U.S. 31 through the town but they don't know how much that will drop after the highway's new route between South Bend and Plymouth opens in late August.

Lakeville Economic Development Commission member Dennis Deniger tells WNDU-TV (http://bit.ly/1mhqYfe ) he believes few of the travelers stop in the 800-person town. Deniger says the town could benefit by less traffic speeding through.

Town officials are working on a plan to overhaul the main street so it will be more pedestrian and bicyclist friendly with better landscaping.