Infrastructure News Summary
For April 4, 2008

NEW HIGHWAY FACES STRIPING DELAYS
Tri-State Media
Nathan Blackford
4/2/08

An unusually wet spring has delayed the final work on State Road 62 just west of Chandler, according to the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT). The paving for the roadway is complete, and has been that way for weeks. That's left drivers wondering why the segment of four-lane road is still reduced to a two-lane bottleneck. There are a few minor items to be finished, including a guardrail and shoulder work. But the major problem, said INDOT spokesperson Cher Goodwin, are the raised pavement markings. And that striping can't be completed until the weather cooperates.
http://www.tristate-media.com/articles/2008/04/03/warricknews/news/03highway.txt

CARMEL READIES FOR KEYSTONE PROJECT
WTHR-TV
Chris Proffitt
4/3/08

Indianapolis - Work begins next month on the first phase of the Keystone Avenue reconstruction project in Carmel. The city is rebuilding the road from 96th street to US 31. First up is the construction of two roundabouts, including one at 106th Street. When Carmel's Keystone reconstruction project is complete in 2010, the road will be lowered at major intersections with six elevated roundabouts, appearing more like a parkway than a major thoroughfare from 96th Street to just north of 136th. The first phase of construction gets underway in May. The construction project will claim a Carmel daycare center, which is set to close on Friday. The city plans to convert that section of 106th and Keystone into a roundabout. The city plans to first build two roundabouts at 106th and 126th Streets. http://www.wthr.com/Global/story.asp?S=8115900&nav=9Tai

1,400-ACRE INDUSTRIAL TIF DISTRICT PROPOSED
The Star Press
Seth Slabaugh
4/3/08

MUNCIE -- Hoping to build on the success of the Magna Drivetrain of America factory, Delaware County officials are proposing a 1,400-acre tax increment financing (TIF) district south and east of the southside Industria Centre. Projects to be funded by the plan include reconstruction of Fuson Road, improvements to drainage, railways and other roads, utility extension and construction of an 80,000-square-feet shell building northeast of Fuson and Cowan roads. http://www.thestarpress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080403/BUSINESS/804030318/1046

'OPEN MARKET' CONSTRUCTION WOES
WISH-TV
4/3/08

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - A major downtown construction project is tying up traffic along Washington Street. City crews have cut westbound Washington Street to one lane from Southeastern Avenue to College Ave. The next move is to have College go down to one lane for the block between Washington St. and Market St.The lane closures are supposed to last two weeks for the current portion of the project. The construction is part of a multi-million dollar, two year project called Open Market. The plan is to remove the old Market and Ohio Street ramps to I-65 and build a new ramp at Washington Street. The project is designed to increase traffic flow and open up the downtown area. City officials said the construction will pave the way for new development on the city's east side. http://www.wishtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=8115142&nav=0Ra7

BIDDING BEGINS FOR I-69 CONSTRUCTION
WIBC-FM
4/3/08
The state has opened the bidding on a contract to build the first section on the long-planned I-69 extension between Evansville and Indianapolis. Contractors have already started clearing trees and homes in Gibson County. Construction is set to start in midsummer. A federal judge in December ruled against environmental groups that had sued to try to block the highway. Indiana Department of Transportation officials are concerned about threats to the project following an internet posting from an environmental group protesting the project. http://www.wibc.com/News/Story.aspx?ID=88127

CLINTON STREET BRIDGE TO CLOSE FOR A YEAR
CITY DROPS TEMPORARY LINK FROM DOWNTOWN REPLACEMENT PROJECT
Fort Wayne Journal Gazette
Benjamin Lanka
4/3/08

Clinton Street commuters have some time but better start preparing now for a yearlong closure set to begin in 2010 that will change how thousands of people get into downtown each day. The Fort Wayne Board of Public Works on Wednesday approved a revised coordination contract with the Indiana Department of Transportation regarding the replacement of Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Bridge on Clinton Street over the St. Marys River. David Ross, city engineer, said in an effort to cut costs and protect the surrounding parks, the project will no longer include a temporary bridge for southbound Clinton Street traffic. This will mean about a $1 million savings for the project, Ross said, but it will require the 26,000 vehicles using the bridge each day to find an alternate route. http://www.journalgazette.net/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080403/LOCAL/804030333/-1/LOCAL07