Storm Drain Work to Trigger Lane Restriction on Broadway Starting Tuesday

Fort Wayne drivers heading north on Broadway might need to pump the brakes this week—literally. Crews are set to block off a key lane for storm inlet replacement beginning Tuesday morning.

The closure, limited to the right northbound lane at the intersection of Broadway and Stophlet Street, is expected to last through Thursday afternoon.

Small Block, Big Backup?

It’s only a block. But it’s a block that matters.

The intersection of Broadway and Stophlet sits in a busy part of the city, flanked by small businesses, homes, and heavy commuter traffic. One lane going down can quickly jam the whole flow—especially during peak hours.

And with just a few days to complete the work, crews will be moving fast. That could mean more equipment, more flaggers, and less room for drivers trying to slip through.

Why It’s Happening This Week

City engineers flagged the storm inlet at that intersection for immediate replacement. It’s a basic piece of infrastructure, but when it goes bad, you’ll know it.

A faulty storm inlet can lead to water backups, street flooding, and—if left unchecked—foundation issues below the road surface.

“The inlet’s been under observation for a while,” said one city official. “This week presented a gap in the calendar where we could jump in and knock it out with minimal overlap on other nearby projects.”

The timing isn’t perfect, but it’s not random either.

Drivers Might Feel the Pinch

Some drivers have already started rerouting. Others are prepping for a frustrating few days.

“This stretch already slows down after 4 p.m.,” said Alicia, a resident in the nearby Oakdale neighborhood. “One less lane? I’m guessing it’ll be bumper-to-bumper.”

Broadway isn’t a multi-lane freeway—it’s a tight corridor with traffic lights, pedestrians, and side street access. Losing one lane in that setup doesn’t just delay movement; it can shift traffic across a wider area.

Even with flaggers and signage, people might still find themselves crawling.

And for folks unfamiliar with the area, it could cause some confusion—especially during mid-morning or lunchtime rushes when local businesses see a spike in customers.

What’s Actually Being Fixed?

The storm inlet repair will focus on replacing aging metal and concrete grates that allow surface water to flow off the road and into the drainage system.

This isn’t the kind of job that’s done with a shovel and a few cones.

Here’s a quick breakdown of what crews are likely to tackle:

Remove old or damaged inlet covers and boxes
Excavate and reset the substructure for proper drainage
Install a new stormwater inlet designed to handle heavier rainfall
Repave and secure the section once the replacement is complete

The work may look small from above, but below ground it’s a different story. The inlet is connected to a network of drains that snake below downtown streets—and if it backs up, nearby homes and businesses could be impacted during storms.

Nearby Streets Could See Ripple Effects

Broadway might be the main work zone, but surrounding areas could get hit with spillover traffic.

That includes:

Street	Distance from Site	Likely Impact
Stophlet Street	0 feet	Partial blockage
Beaver Avenue	1 block	Minor backups
Taylor Street	3 blocks	Light detour route
Swinney Avenue	4 blocks	Cut-through traffic

If traffic builds up, GPS apps like Google Maps may push drivers toward these side streets—many of which aren’t built for heavy flow.

Quick Fix or Trouble Ahead?

The work is scheduled to wrap up by Thursday afternoon. But there’s always the weather wildcard.

Forecasts for this week show a slight chance of showers mid-week, which could push the finish into Friday if conditions don’t hold.

That said, city workers are known to push hard to finish small repairs on time. Short-term utility projects like this usually come with strict 3-day or 5-day windows to reduce impact.

“We don’t want to be out there longer than we have to,” said a public works crew member. “But we also can’t cut corners on drainage. That stuff has to be spot-on.”