Infrastructure News Summary
For April 17, 2008

STATE MESSED UP MAJOR MOVES MONEY
The Pilot News
John Reed
4/16/08

KNOX - Starke County's leaders are blaming the state for dumping almost $900,000 of Gov. Mitch Daniels' Major Moves money into the highway department's MVH fund, where it was spent mostly for day-to-day operations, not for its intended purpose of road improvements. The discussion came one week after commissioners learned only $17,000 was left in the bank and said they didn't know what happened to the money. Auditor Michaelene Houston summarized what officials believed happened. The state auditor sent deposit slips - a standard procedure - in 2006 and 2007, showing Major Moves money being deposited in the Motor Vehicle Highway fund (MVH). That fund mostly contains gas tax money and is the basic day-to-day operating fund for the highway department. http://www.thepilotnews.com/content/view/49585/

UPCOMING FISHERS ROAD WORK WILL RESTRICT LANES
Noblesville Daily Times
4/16/08

FISHERS, IN - The Town of Fishers Engineer and Public Works Department announced today that upcoming roadwork on Fishers streets will result in lane restrictions for two sites. Lantern Road between 106th & Lantern Woods Apartments: The work is scheduled to be completed April 18, 2008. Flag men will be on site directing traffic flow through these hours. Crews will work on a storm sewer crossing for the Prairieview at Crosspoint development. Allisonville between Easy Street and 106th Street. Starting April 21, 2008, weather permitting, motorists should expect lane restrictions between Easy Street and 106th Street. The duration of the work is unknown but is not expected to last more than seven to ten business days. All signage will be in place directing drivers including advance warning signs, directional merge boards, etc. Both lanes will re-open before and after the times listed. Crews will work on median removal and construction of a left turn lane for the Fishers Medical Office Plaza on Allisonville Road. http://www.county29.net/cms2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=12850&Itemid=99999999

HIGHWAY RECONSTRUCTION PLANS
WLFI-TV
4/16/08

LAFAYETTE, IND -- Plans are moving forward to reconstruct large portions of U.S. 52. The reconstruction would take place on U.S. 52-- or Sagamore Parkway through Lafayette, all the way from the Wabash River to State Road 38 and Main Street. APC Assistant Transportation Director, John Thomas, says the project is at the top of the Indiana Department of Transportation's list. Thomas says the reconstruction would include new curb gutters and side walks. State and federal funding will fund the reconstruction of U.S. 52. http://www.wlfi.com/Global/story.asp?S=8178222

PATCHWORK ON U.S. 52 MAY EASE SOME TRIPS
Journal & Courier
Dorothy Schneider
4/17/08

Help is on the way for the dilapidated stretch of U.S. 52 that runs from the Wabash River east to Indiana 38. The Indiana Department of Transportation is proceeding with plans to repave the road beginning in 2010. Plus, state crews will work on patching the worst sections of the road this summer to tide local drivers over until the major overhaul begins, said Mark Albers, INDOT's Crawfordsville district deputy commissioner of planning. The repaving project slated to begin in fiscal year 2010 will be paid for through state and federal funding, said John Thomas, assistant director of transportation for Tippecanoe County. In other business, the technical transportation committee assigned its own priorities to a list of projects on INDOT's radar. The group hopes to sway state officials to proceed first with projects that are most important to county residents. Highest priority was given to the local Major Moves projects, including new construction of the Indiana 25, being tied into the Hoosier Heartland, and U.S. 231. http://www.jconline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080417/NEWS/804170344