Infrastructure News Summary
For April 21, 2008

JOHNSON ROAD TO GET FACE LIFT
The News-Dispatch
Laurie Wink
4/20/08

LA PORTE - Two major road-improvement projects on Johnson Road could take place this year. A resurfacing project begins Monday, shutting down portions of Johnson Road until the project is completed, which could be anywhere from 10 days to a month, according to county highway superintendent Bob Young. The $1.2 million project to repave the seven-mile stretch of Johnson Road between U.S. 35 and U.S. 20 is being done by Rieth-Riley Construction. Young also said he's hopeful another Johnson Road improvement project could be completed before the end of the year. The federal government is funding 80 percent of a $2.5 million project to improve intersections at Pahs Road and County Road 450 North. A dip in Johnson Road near Pahs Road will be removed and left turn lanes added at County Road 450 North. http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&ArticleID=12421

ROAD WORK TO IMPACT TRAFFIC ON IND. 167
The Star Press
4/19/08

DUNKIRK - Flaggers will direct traffic around construction crews next week along Ind. 167 on the south side of Dunkirk. Brooks Construction will begin work Tuesday to temporarily widen pavement on the east side of the roadway from the city's south boundary to the railroad tracks at the center of town. Once temporary pavement is in place, two-way traffic will shift to the east lane -- allowing workers to remove the full depth of pavement on the west half of Ind. 167 and reconstruct the roadbed over new storm sewer lines. Eventually, two-way traffic will be rerouted to the west side as Brooks replaces the east lane. The Indiana Department of Transportation is rebuilding 1.7 miles of the state highway through Dunkirk. http://www.thestarpress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080419/NEWS01/804190349/1002

WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN LLOYD CONSTRUCTION STARTS
WFIE-TV
Brandon Bartlett
4/18/08

It seems construction is popping up everywhere, on Diamond Avenue, the Twin Bridges and now the Lloyd Expressway. And because of all the construction, Tri-Staters know what the first sign is. You might want to call it the great orange way. For the next six months the orange barrels will line the Lloyd Expressway as road crews complete a $2 million project to fix breaks in the pavement and to resurface the high traffic area. http://www.14wfie.com/Global/story.asp?S=8179034&nav=menu54_1

BAD OPTIONS FOR BRIDGE
Fort Wayne Journal Gazette
4/20/08

The yearlong closing of the Clinton Street bridge in 2010-2011 will create traffic bottlenecks, lengthen commutes and drive up blood pressure - whether or not the city decides to build a $1.25 million temporary bridge. Clinton Street is also U.S. 27, so the state and federal governments are paying about 75 percent of the cost of the $8 million bridge and will establish an official detour that will route thru traffic around the city using state highways. City officials first planned a temporary bridge, then decided against it and are now re-examining the decision to determine the best course. City government would have to foot the entire cost. Coming up with more than $1 million is not easy, especially at a time when a new property tax law will reduce the amount of money city government can raise. Even if the city can find it, money is not the only issue. http://www.journalgazette.net/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080420/EDIT07/804200373

U.S. 20 IN LAGRANGE TO UNWIND
Fort Wayne Journal Gazette
Benjamin Lanka
4/19/08

Safety improvements are on the way for drivers in LaGrange County.
Q. There have been plans for 10 or 12 years to remove the dangerous curves on U.S. 20 between LaGrange and (Indiana) 5 at Shipshewana. As I understand this project has been approved and funded even prior to the Toll Road lease. What is the status of this project? - E-mail from Ed Dooley, of Big Turkey Lake in Steuben County
A. Good news, Ed, the project will be under construction this year. Stacie McCormick, spokeswoman for the Indiana Department of Transportation, said the state will begin working on the highway this spring. It is expected to be completed in fall 2009. The state will straighten and realign U.S. 20 from 0.5 miles west of Indiana 5 to 3 miles east of Indiana 5. http://www.journalgazette.net/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080419/LOCAL0203/804190328/1002/LOCAL

MAJOR MOVES: REVAMP SET FOR IND. 38
Noblesville Daily Times
Rebecca Sandlin
4/18/08

When the Major Moves U.S. 31 Hamilton County improvement project begins in 2011, the first interchange to be reconstructed will be Indiana 38. Environmental planner Jill Hoffmann and project manager Steve Fleming met with members of the Westfield-Washington Chamber of Commerce Thursday to provide an update on how the project is coming along. Fleming said the Ind. 38 crossroad at U.S. 31 will be the first of 16 interchanges or overpasses between Interstate 465 and 216th Street to be revamped. When the $480 million project is completed, traffic heading north or south on U.S. 31 should be able to move at 55 mph. However, http://www.county29.net/cms2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=12966&Itemid=230

INDOT HEARING SEEKS VIGO INPUT ON 641 BYPASS PHASES
The Tribune-Star
Howard Greninger
4/18/08

TERRE HAUTE - Vigo County residents can comment on route alternatives for the last phases of the Indiana 641 Bypass at an Indiana Department of Transportation public hearing April 29 in Maryland Community Church. "INDOT will go over the alternatives being studied now and get input from folks on those alternatives. The goal is to have a draft environmental assessment hopefully in August," said Ron Hisenkamp, chief transportation planner for WCIEDD. The proposed new routes for the last phases of the bypass are estimated to have construction costs of between $75 million and $88 million, said Eryn Fletcher, INDOT project manager on Indiana 641. Additional costs will be for right-of-way acquisitions. Those cost estimates are expected to be known within a month, she said. The entire 6.2-mile 641 bypass project is to cost $150 million. http://www.tribstar.com/news/local_story_109225235.html

CONSTRUCTION BEGINS ON IND. 28 ONTO I-65
Journal & Courier
4/20/08

CRAWFORDSVILLE -- The Indiana Department of Transportation has begun work on a Major Moves interchange modification project on Indiana 28 and Interstate 65 in Clinton County. The project will reconstruct the bridge deck and add a turn lane from Indiana 28 onto I-65. A turn lane on the northbound and southbound off-ramps will be added. The pavement will be replaced on the approaches, the bridge and all four ramps. The $3.3 million project will be completed November 2008. Gov. Mitch Daniels' Major Moves program funds the projects. http://www.jconline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080421/NEWS/804210322

PLAINFIELD TO CLOSE U.S. 40 AND TRAILS FOR BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION
The Indianapolis Star
Bruce Smith
4/18/08

PLAINFIELD, Ind. - Construction is scheduled Monday on a $1.4 million pedestrian bridge along Main Street in Plainfield, which will mean temporary closings of U.S. 40 and a hiking trail. Transportation director Don McGillem said the closings on U.S. 40 - Plainfield's Main Street - generally will be brief, though one lane will be closed most of the day. Three trucks loaded with more than 72 tons of steel will deliver trusses and beams to the job site about 9 a.m. Then, three 250-ton cranes will lift the sections into place and hold them steady, while workers, suspended in baskets, fasten the pieces together, McGillem said. The bridge, in the 400 block of West Main Street, is envisioned as a landmark for Plainfield and a western gateway into the town. Town planners intend the bridge as a link for pedestrians walking from downtown on the east bank of White Lick Creek to the new Plainfield Youth Athletic Complex under construction on the west bank. http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008804180494