April 9, 2026 — The City of South Bend announces a months-long closure of Colfax Avenue for an upcoming streetscape project.
Beginning April 13, the intersection of Niles and Colfax avenues will close for utility work for AEP. The detour route will be Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard and Eddy Street via LaSalle Avenue.
Starting April 20, Colfax Avenue from the East Bank Trail to Hill Street will close for Phase One of the Colfax Avenue Streetscape Project. The project includes a number of improvements to create safer traffic patterns, including bike and pedestrian facilities. Construction should be completed in September, barring any weather delays or unforeseen circumstances.
Improvements include a new multi-purpose path, new traffic signals, new sidewalks, raised intersections at Niles Avenue and Sycamore Street, a raised crossing at the East Race Trail, decorative lighting and trees. Construction will be completed in three phases:
- Phase One is from Gintz Avenue (west of the East Bank Trail) to Hill Street. This section of Colfax Avenue will be closed during this phase. Work is expected to be completed in July.
- Phase Two is from Sycamore Street to Gintz Avenue. This section of Colfax Avenue will be closed during this phase. Construction is planned for July through September.
- Phase Three is the repaving of Colfax Avenue from Sycamore to Eddy streets in September.
The detour route during this project will be Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard and Eddy Street via LaSalle Avenue.
In a separate project planned for later this year, St. Joseph County plans to rebuild the Colfax Avenue bridge over the St. Joseph River and the Colfax Avenue and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard intersection.
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