Infrastructure News Summary
For April 30, 2008

CHANGES COMING TO BUSY EVANSVILLE CROSSING
WFIE-TV
4/28/08

Starting on May 12, you'll see big changes at the Lloyd and Fulton Avenue. INDOT's getting ready to build a new interchange. Contractors outlined how they'll start demolishing the former pawn shop and brake supply on the southwest corner on May 12th. Then road construction will start after Memorial Day. It should all be finished in about a year and a half. http://www.14wfie.com/Global/story.asp?S=8240447&nav=menu54_1

INDIANA 327 CLOSING IN CORUNNA
Fort Wayne Journal Gazette
4/29/08

Indiana 327 will be closed at the bridge over the Norfolk Southern tracks in Corunna, just south of U.S. 6, the Indiana Department of Transportation announced Tuesday. Beginning Monday, work will begin on a new bridge to provide higher clearance over the tracks. The detour will use Indiana 8, Interstate 69 and U.S. 6. The detour adds about six miles for through traffic, the announcement said. The state route is scheduled to reopen in November. The elevated grade of the new bridge floor will permanently close the Depot, Henna and Campbell streets' approaches to Indiana 327. http://www.journalgazette.net/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080429/LOCAL/621627947/1002/LOCAL

COMMUNITY FORUM ON 641 BYPASS PROJECT
'SOUTHERN ALTERNATIVE E3' GETS NOD DURING PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD OF MEETING
The Tribune Star
Brian Boyce
4/29/08

TERRE HAUTE - State officials met with some frustrated community members Tuesday night as nearly 100 people attended a public hearing on route alternatives for the last phases of an Indiana 641 bypass through Riley. Complaints heard by INDOT and Beam, Longest and Neff officials included the length of time the project is taking, as well as the identity of the Community Advisory Committee's members. But those who spoke during the public comment period agreed that if a move has to be made, the option titled "Southern Alternative E3" is their choice. "I'm probably the most hostile person against this project," McDaniel Road resident Rita Drake said in the Maryland Community Church's open area during the public comment time. Drake said the section of McDaniel Road near Gross Drive and Fagin Street on which she lives has been closed for more than a year. Rep. Vern Tincher (D-Riley) noted that "when they started talking about project 641 the target date was 2005," he said. "I've been looking at this project since the early '90s." http://www.tribstar.com/news/local_story_120225817.html

INDOT RECOMMENDS COUNTY BRIDGE FUNDING
PROJECTS ON WEST SHAFER DRIVE OVER HOAGLAND BAY AND BIG MONON BAY TO COST MORE THAN $1 MILLION TO REPLACE.
Herald Journal
Kevin Howell
4/30/08

White County officials will learn today whether they will be awarded federal funding for two bridge projects on West Shafer Drive over Hoagland Bay and Big Monon Bay. Last week during a meeting at Indiana Department of Transportation LaPorte District office, a recommendation was made by district officials to fund the two projects at a total cost of more than a $1 million, $770,000 for Hoagland Bay and $355,000 for Big Monon Bay. Funds would be taken from $4.8 million allocated to the district from rural county bridge federal funds. That is, if the recommendation is approved today by the state Local Project Agency, LPA, project selection committee in Indianapolis. INDOT public information officer Joshua Bingham said the federal monies are administered each year. In all, seven counties in the LaPorte District applied for the funding including Carroll, Fulton, LaPorte, Marshall, Porter, St. Joseph and White counties. http://www.thehj.com/main.asp?SectionID=9&SubSectionID=32&ArticleID=23471&TM=21643.12

BUILDING A COVERED BRIDGE
The Indianapolis Star
4/30/08

Indiana, home to more than 50 covered bridges, will get another of the iconic spans. Bob Chastain, John Burris and Travis McPike from Square and Level Construction, are among workers building a covered bridge at the State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis. The design is modeled after the Bridgeton bridge in Parke County and is being built with donated poplar and oak logs. The bridge is expected to be finished in time for the State Fair's opening ceremonies on Aug. 6. http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080430/LOCAL/804300469/1001/NEWS

ROAD CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULE UP IN THE AIR
The Indianapolis Star
John Tuohy
4/30/08

Fishers work crews expect to start on the first of about a half-dozen intersection improvements by the end of May. Contracts will be awarded in the next couple of weeks for the projects, which include building two roundabouts. The roundabouts will be built at 141st Street and Cumberland Road, and at Ind. 238 and Olio Road. A roundabout built last year at Lantern Road and 126th Street convinced town officials they could be effective traffic-control devices.
The town also is planning other intersection improvements, including:
Another right-turn lane on 96th Street from Kincaid to the McDonald's.
A right-turn lane on westbound 116th at Commercial Drive and extension of the southbound left-turn lane on Commercial.
Installation of a signal and minor lane improvements at 121st and Cumberland.
A permanent traffic signal and a right-turn lane on 131st Street at Allisonville Road.
A new traffic signal or roundabout at 106th Street and Hague Road.
Two other large projects by the Indiana Department of Transportation -- costing $4.5 million -- are scheduled to begin soon. http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080430/LOCAL0102/804300343/1001/NEWS