Infrastructure News Summary
For April 22, 2008
ROAD REPAIR BUDGETS THINNER
Post-Tribune
Erik Potter
4/22/08
The pothole gardens that sprouted up on area roads this spring may not get
the attention they deserve this summer as some local governments are struggling
to stay ahead of rising construction costs and falling revenues. A confluence of
short- and long-term factors is putting the collective squeeze on area road
budgets this year. For instance:
-Major Moves funding from the lease of the Indiana Toll Road, which boosted road
budgets in 2006 and 2007, dries up in 2008.
-Regular state funding for road work, much of which comes from the gasoline tax,
has been falling slightly each year.
-Rising oil prices, which have forced airlines to close up shop and pushed gas
prices past $3.50 a gallon, have caused the price of asphalt -- a
petroleum-based product -- to soar as well.
-A white winter, which featured double the usual number of snow days, used up a
greater percentage of road money than normal, leaving less for road repair.
-Late property tax collections last year forced municipalities to borrow money
to pay the bills, and the interest on those loans is eating into city budgets. http://www.post-trib.com/news/907165,roadwork.article
INDOT ANNOUNCES U.S. 421-S.R. 18 RESTRICTION
WLFI-TV
4/21/08
Traffic at the intersection of U.S. 421 and State Road 18 in Carroll County will be restricted through Friday, April 25. The Indiana Department of Transportation said traffic at the "T" intersection will be restricted to one lane due to construction. INDOT said a final layer of asphalt and pavement markets will be applied for an intersection improvement project that began in June, 2007. The project converted the triangle intersection into a "T" intersection with a three-way stop. http://www.wlfi.com/Global/story.asp?S=8203489&nav=menu591_3
RETAIL GAS MARCHES HIGHER
Evansville Courier & Press
Adam Schreck
4/22/08
NEW YORK -- Rising gasoline prices tightened the squeeze on drivers Monday,
jumping to an average $3.50 a gallon at filling stations across the country.
Crude oil, meanwhile, set a new record of its own, spiking after an attack on a
Japanese oil tanker in the Middle East to close above $117 a barrel for the
first time. Diesel prices at the pump also struck a record high, of $4.20 a
gallon, according to AAA and the Oil Price Information Service, putting pressure
on truckers and other shippers who rely on the fuel to transport goods to
market. Prices are expected to keep climbing as they trace the path of crude,
which has surged to new records for six trading sessions in a row. Oil prices
are rising along with a host of commodities, from corn and wheat to gold and
platinum, that are enticing speculators seeking hedges against a weakening
dollar. http://www.courierpress.com/news/2008/apr/22/retail-gas-marches-higher/
Also, http://www.etruth.com/Know/News/Story.aspx?ID=447004