Infrastructure News Summary
For April 23, 2008
WESTERN ROUTE TAKES DIFFERENT FORM AFTER ORIGINAL PLANS DENIED BY INDOT
Times-Union
Tim Robertson
4/22/08
Kosciusko County was going to have a route that stretched the entire length of the county from north to south using existing and new stretches of road. The route was going to make it possible for truck traffic to bypass Warsaw and ease the traffic situation at some of the city's intersections. It was called the "Western Route." The county began discussing the Western Route in 2003, after federal funds were earmarked to help fund the project. The county worked with Mishawaka engineering firm, Troyer Group, to identify several plans for route alternatives. The county commissioners selected a final route July 27, 2004. The corridor began near CR 400S and traveled southwest of Goose Lake to approximately CR 350W. The proposed corridor would travel north until approximately Crystal Lake Road, and then travel north along CR 300W, crossing U.S. 30 at the closed rest park. In the area of CRs 450N to 500N, it would travel east to Ind. 15. As many back property fence lines as possible would be used. The proposed corridor then went north on Ind. 15, but before going through Milford, it turned northwest to the Elkhart County line. Then, Commissioner Ron Truex and Troyer Group engineers presented the plan to the Indiana Department of Transportation. The cost of the first phase of the project was estimated at $37,350,000. Robinson said INDOT found the project to be too costly. http://www.timesuniononline.com/main.asp?SectionID=2&SubSectionID=224&ArticleID=32610&TM=47831.52
61ST AVENUE SITE CLOSING MONDAY
The NWI Times
Deborah Laverty
4/23/08
HOBART | The start of the workweek Monday also will be the official start of the 61st Avenue road construction project, city officials said. Once started, the entire project is expected to take 18 months translating to road closures and detours for at least five months of that period, Assistant Fire Chief Steve Mast said. The $6.9 million project calls for widening and improvements to 61st Avenue starting at Marcella Boulevard on the west and ending just east of Colorado Street, City Engineer Steve Truchan said. Work at the 61st Avenue/Colorado Street intersection, starting east of Liverpool Road, will entail building a 16-foot wide, 8-foot tall concrete culvert-style bridge over a dipped portion of the roadway, Truchan said. The 61st Avenue bridge construction site will begin roughly at the Elks Club and continue east past the Colorado Street intersection, he said. Other improvements to 61st Avenue will include adding new storm sewers, streetlights and curbs, he said. http://nwi.com/articles/2008/04/23/news/lake_county/doccf7594160f92f588862574330082a1aa.txt
INDIANA TO RECEIVE FEDERAL FUNDING FOR BRIDGE REPAIR
WNDU-TV
4/22/08
Some federal funding makes it possible to give area bridges some much needed attention. INDOT gave its recommendation Tuesday concerning which county bridges they believe are most in need of work. This year, 4.8 million dollars will be awarded to help build and repair bridges in northern Indiana. The federal government sets aside money each year for bridge projects, and then gives those funds to the state. INDOT's recommendations will get final approval next week. The money is only for rural bridge projects. http://www.wndu.com/localnews/headlines/18016814.html
I-69 CONTRACTOR AGREED TO SETTLE FRAUD CLAIMS
WLFI-TV
4/22/08
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - A company that agreed in December to pay $8 million to settle fraud claims has won a state contract to pave the first section of the Interstate 69 extension to Evansville. Gohmann Asphalt and Construction of Clarksville was awarded a $25 million contract this month to build a 1.8-mile section of the highway from Interstate 64 near Evansville to State Road 68. The settlement in December followed claims that the company switched road core samples to hide inadequate work. But it was the lowest of 5 bidders on the I-69 project that is scheduled to bein by mid-summer. http://www.wlfi.com/Global/story.asp?S=8211180
ROAD WORK A SIGN OF GROWTH
The Indianapolis Star
4/23/08
Just once I'd like to get through a summer without having to drive through a major road construction project every day. Last year it was the roundabout at Dan Jones Road and Hendricks County Road 100 South. The year before it was the reconstruction of Ind. 267 from I-70 to U.S. 40. In the years before that it was the overhaul of I-70 between I-465 and Ind. 267. This year it's going to be the roundabout at Hadley Road and Center Street in Plainfield. My plight is one that many Hendricks County residents share. Brownsburg will be coping with construction on Ind. 267 north of town, and there will be work along I-74 as crews finish up the new interchange at Ronald Reagan Parkway. It gets tedious having to wait in long lines of traffic and dodge cones and construction equipment. The last thing you need after a hard day at work is having to sit in your car, creeping along in traffic with the summer heat bearing down. http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008804230346