Infrastructure News Summary
For April 2, 2008

CONSTRUCTION BEGINS ON EASTGATE PROJECT
Post-Tribune
Teresa Auch
4/1/08

VALPARAISO -- Rain didn't stop the beginning of construction Monday morning on the city's Eastgate project. City officials conducted the groundbreaking on one of the last major stages of work on its project to improve Valparaiso's east entrance. The project will add a turning lane, sidewalks, lights and other improvements to Lincolnway from Roosevelt Road to the roundabout. Mayor Jon Costas called the project the biggest one of many in the city. The project has been in the works for years, and city officials had to conduct various talks with business owners. The project will also develop University Drive to extend past Lincolnway, creating a north entrance to Valparaiso University, Redevelopment Commission Executive Director Stu Summers said. http://www.post-trib.com/news/870679,eastgate.article

WORK UNDER WAY ON I-69 PROJECT
The Herald Bulletin
4/1/08

Four months after a court victory over environmentalists, state highway officials are pushing ahead with their plans to start work this summer on the first segment of the long-planned Interstate 69 extension between Evansville and Indianapolis. State contractors began clearing trees and homes last month from a nearly 2-mile-long stretch in Gibson County to prepare for construction of the first piece of the 142-mile highway. http://www.theheraldbulletin.com/statenews/local_story_092202259.html
Also, http://www.wthitv.com/Global/story.asp?S=8103107
Also, http://www.courierpress.com/news/2008/apr/02/fliers-hint-at-i-69-resistance/
Also, http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080402/LOCAL/804020432/1001/NEWS

ARMS OF LIFE HELP IMPROVE JOHNSON COUNTY RAILROAD CROSSINGS
WISHTV-8
4/1/08

JOHNSON COUNTY, Ind. (WISH) - The Johnson County community is starting to see their hard work come to life. Improvements are now underway at a railroad crossing where a tragic accident happened. Railroad crews have installed the wiring and started constructing railroad crossing arms and lights. There will also be warning signs. Following construction at Stones Crossing Road, improvements will be made at Smokey Road and Olive Branch Road in the middle of April. The Arms of Life raised $625,000 for the crossing systems through fundraisers. http://www.wishtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=8102770

WORK BEGINS ON DOWNTOWN SIDEWALKS
Journal & Courier
4/1/08

Construction crews have put up barricades around sidewalks in downtown Lafayette so they could begin making streetscape improvements. Crews will replace the sidewalk and add trees, benches and more on two downtown blocks to make it more pedestrian friendly. Crews will work on Third Street between Columbia and Main streets, and Main Street between Third and Fourth streets. The city will pay about 75 percent of the estimated $800,000 project, with the property owners along each block paying the remaining balance. The work should be finished by Thanksgiving. http://www.jconline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080402/NEWS/804020335

CANDIDATE CALLS FOR CAP ON GAS TAX
WTHR-TV
Kevin Rader
4/1/08

Indianapolis - The race for the Democratic nomination for Indiana governor is getting a lot more interesting. While Jill Long Thompson is calling for a cap on the state's sales tax on fuel, Jim Schellinger is criss-crossing the state accepting endorsements. Limiting the tax is not all together a new idea. The late Governor Frank O'Bannon suspended the gas tax for 117 days in 2000. A similar bill passed the House this year before stalling in the Senate. Thompson is quick to point out that it will not affect highway construction in the state, because it's the sales tax that goes into the general fund versus the gas tax that is earmarked for highway construction. Her campaign took another big step by going up on television statewide this week, using commercial time to introduce herself to potential voters. http://www.wthr.com/Global/story.asp?S=8102722