FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - Four major roadways in southeast Fort Wayne will be getting a makeover in an effort to curb speeding and crashes in the area. The city announced in a release Thursday it was awarded an estimated $3.8 million in federal grant funding from the 2024 Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) program by the U.S. Department of Transportation. The project intends to bring "multi-modal surface transportation enhancements" to South Anthony Boulevard, Paulding Road, Fairfield Avenue, and East Tillman Road, all areas that have been recorded by Indiana State Police as frequent spots for collisions over a four-year period. From 2018 to 2022, 1,511 crashes took place along those four roads, leading to seven deaths and 544 people injured, according to data from ISP's Automated Reporting Information Exchange System. Common contributing factors in those crashes were failure to yield the right-of-way, unsafe lane movement, running off the right side of the road, improper turning, and unsafe speeds. Fort Wayne firefighters get raise, complex union deal looms In an effort to prevent as many crashes as possible, that's where the renovations come in. City Engineer Patrick Zaharako explained the vision for the project's outcome is to transition the area from being a pass-through to one where people stop, shop, work, and live. The way to do that, Zaharako explained, is to make the roads more accessible and safer to navigate for drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians alike. The city said in the release the wide, roomy lanes are connected with a high rate of speeding and crashes. Each of the four roads will become narrow and the speed limits will be reduced to calm traffic, according to the release. Pedestrians and bicyclists will have access to walkways apart from the roads, and drivers will be able to find on-street parking so they don't have to cross large lots to get where they're going. The project also seeks to improve transit accessibility and develop the area for commercial, residential and public spaces that are sustainable. According to the release, planning efforts will also seek to encourage modes of travel that reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Investing in local infrastructure projects is one of the most important things that we do to help Fort Wayne be the best city possible for residents, neighborhoods, and businesses. It’s great to see our Public Works Division partnering with the federal government to bring needed funding to our community to make these important improvements.” Mayor Sharon Tucker According to the release, the planning portion of the RAISE grant covers 100% of the engineering costs. While a detailed timeline hasn't been announced, the city said its Public Works Division will apply for a construction grant through the RAISE program once the project has been engineered and the construction costs have been estimated.