INDIANTOWN — A representative of the state Department of Transportation came to Indiantown to explain a proposed plan to improve almost 8 miles of Kanner Highway in western Martin County, but few residents attended the meeting.

The representative was left in a nearly empty room in Elisabeth Lahti Library with his maps and handouts, and a couple of consultants.

The project, which costs about $9.8 million in construction costs, will involve resurfacing the section of Kanner Highway that stretches from mile post 1.81, east of Port Mayaca, to mile post 9.77, west of State Road 710, said project manager Fernando Morales.

The project will also create a new right turn lane into Mayaca Cemetery, widen the shoulder length of the whole section to 5 feet and rehabilitate the storm water management systems.

Work on the road section, which has 26 properties on it and is used heavily in trucking, is scheduled to start in June 2011. Morales said that the sparse habitation of the road accounted for the lack of attendance at the meeting.

By Alex Tiegen, TCPalm.com