(New Carlisle, IN) - An essential part of making room for the Amazon data center has been the relocation of a major drainage ditch that runs through that area.

 

The Niespodziany Ditch used to cut right through the southern portion of the Indiana Enterprise Center. It has been rerouted to allow for industrial redevelopment.

 

Bill Shcalliol, head of economic development in St. Joseph County, told the Redevelopment Commission that the realignment is nearly complete. 

 

"There was a lot of coordination on putting material into the old ditch corridor. So, we had aerials flown back in the middle of November and it's amazing to see the new ditch completely grown in and the old ditch is almost unrecognizable", Shcalliol said.  

 

The work, done by Lawson-Fisher of South Bend, has been ongoing since 2022 at the cost of nearly $1 million.  Over a mile of the ditch totaling nearly 12,000 cubic yards of fill dirt was rerouted.

 

"It's amazing how this (Amazon) project has transformed that area", said Shcalliol.