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Residents in Grant and Delaware counties are coming together to support a plan, which would extend Indiana State Road 5, connecting Upland to Yorktown.

Planning process

Three community meetings have already taken place about the proposed extension and more are scheduled, said LaRea Slater, president of the Matthews area Chamber of Commerce, who is spearheading the Indiana 5 extension project.

"We are gathering support from officials [who would help strategically down the road], as far as getting it through for us, as well as community members who it will affect directly," Slater said.

Proposed extension

The extension would turn current small-town roads into a state highway and would directly affect the municipalities of Upland and Matthews in Grant County, as well as Gaston and Yorktown in Delaware County.

Slater said she hopes the extension will help jump start local economies in small towns like Matthews and Gaston.

Gaining support

Gaston resident Grace Harrold said she supports the plan.

"I think it's a great idea," Harrold said. "The roads would always be plowed, probably faster. There would be less potholes, probably, and if it means more traffic ... that's fine with me."

Slater said the plan has already received support from area lawmakers such as state Rep. Joe Pearson and state Sen. Travis Holdman.

Slater said there has been no substantial opposition to the proposed extension.

The next meeting for the Indiana 5 extension will take place in Yorktown next month.