The widening of North River Road (State Road 43) and South River Road is part of a larger project to relocate U.S. 231, which currently winds through downtown Lafayette. With the relocation, U.S. 231 will cross the Wabash River south of Lafayette, avoiding the downtown area. The new road will follow roughly the same path as the current South River Road, moving north along the Wabash River to connect with Fowler Avenue and Wiggins Street. The road will follow Northwestern Avenue out of West Lafayette. Long-term plans call for U.S. 231 to be rerouted south and west of campus, near the Purdue University Airport. However, this segment will not begin until at least 2003. When the project is finished, the mile or so stretch of River Road/State Road 43 from the railroad underpass south of campus to Robinson Street will be vastly changed: The road combining U.S. 231, River Road, and State Road 43 will be realigned and widened, consisting of four lanes with bicycle lanes and sidewalks. The jog at the intersection of the new U.S. 231, State Street (State Road 26), and Brown Street will be straightened. New ramps will connect the new stretch of U.S. 231 with the Harrison Bridge (which crosses the Wabash River and connects Union Street and Salem Street in Lafayette to Fowler Avenue and Wiggins Street in West Lafayette), Fowler Avenue, and Wiggins Street.