Infrastructure News Summary
For April 1, 2008

CARROLL BRIDGE LINKING HISTORY AND PROGRESS
Herald Journal
Scott Allen
4/1/08

A local contractor was among those honored Tuesday for their efforts toward the rehabilitation of a historic Carroll County bridge. The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) takes part in the National Partnership for Highway Quality, a federal organization that encourages individual states to create their own state quality partnerships. According to the NPHQ Web site, state quality partnerships are a voluntary, active group of professionals who meet regularly and share common goals for the continuous improvement of highways, roads and bridges. The Indiana Partnership for Transportation Quality (IPTQ) presented the people responsible for the recent rehabilitation of the historic 1927 Carrollton Bridge, which spans the Wabash River where it intersects Carrollton Road in Carroll County, with an award to commend excellence in its commission, design and construction on March 25.
http://www.thehj.com/main.asp?SectionID=9&SubSectionID=32&ArticleID=23233

U.S. 31 PROPOSAL TO MAKE TRAFFIC MOVE FASTER, SAFER
WISHTV-8
3/31/08

HAMILTON COUNTY, Ind. (WISH) - INDOT is looking at a way to speed up traffic on one major road and officials say it would make drivers safer too. Transportation leaders are considering widening a portion of U.S. 31 and making it stop light free. The specific area would run from I-465 north to State Road 38, impacting both Carmel and Westfield. The project is called "The New U.S. 31" and it would make the road more like an interstate. Stop lights would be taken out, and instead drivers might see on and off ramps. This would not only speed up traffic, but according to INDOT it would make the drive safer too. Traffic studies show 60% of this road is more dangerous than similar roads in the state with a lot of accidents. INDOT tried to do this project several years ago, but didn't have enough money. Now they say with Major Moves, the project could move forward. A public meeting and a final design should be completed by the end of this year, but construction wouldn't start until 2011.
http://www.wishtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=8092124&nav=menu35_2

HIGHER GAS PRICES EXPECTED TO BOOST SOUTH SHORE RIDERSHIP
Chesterton Tribune
Paula Poparad
3/31/08

Gas prices are headed up again and some believe they will hit $4 per gallon this summer. So will it affect ridership on the South Shore commuter railroad? "The cost of gas ebbs and flows but it's not going down. It's amazing how (gasoline prices) correspond with our ridership," marketing director John Parsons told the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District on Friday. "It gives some indication if we start creeping up to $4 a gallon. We may see that this summer."
http://www.chestertontribune.com/Northwest%20Indiana/3312%20higher_gas_prices_expected_to_bo.htm

TUNNEL PROJECT BEGINS
Michael Malik
Journal & Courier
4/1/08

Lafayette city officials broke ground Monday on a massive tunnel project aimed at reducing the amount of raw sewage that spills into the Wabash River during periods of heavy rain. Construction crews plan to bore a tunnel big enough to drive a car through nearly half a mile long under Second Street. The project, which will hold overflow sewage until it can be treated by the city's treatment plant, should be completed by July 2009 and will cost the city $18.5 million. Lafayette increased sewer rates a total of 33 percent since April 2006 to generate the $27 million needed to pay for the tunnel, a new lift station and related work. That's $84 a year in additional sewage fees for the average household. The improvements should modernize an aging infrastructure, accommodate future city growth and meet federal pollution law. http://www.jconline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080401/NEWS02/804010329

INDIANA TOLL ROAD RATES RISE TODAY FOR THOSE PAYING CASH
Bloomington Herald Times
4/1/08

HAMMOND - Motorists who pay cash to drive on the Indiana Toll Road will see their rates increase starting today. The highway's private operator is authorized under its contract with the state to raise tolls as it starts operating an electronic toll transponder system on the full length of the 157-mile highway. The toll for the full length of the toll road will rise to $8 from the current $4.65 for car drivers paying cash. Toll rates also will go up for trucks, with the charge for six-axle vehicles driving the full highway going from $26.50 to $32 and seven-axle vehicles rising from $49.25 to $59.60.
For more information, please call TRIAD at 1-800-288-7423.