Infrastructure News Summary
For July 17, 2008

Construction begins on I-69
WTHI
7/16/08

EVANSVILLE, Ind. (WTHI) - Governor Mitch Daniels kicked off the long awaited construction of I-69, Wednesday. More than 1,000 people filled the convention center in Evansville to celebrate the construction. The first to dig in was David Graham who has spent 25 years advocating for the road. While those inside were celebrating, a small group opposed to the highway protested outside. "This is making us more concerned than ever and actually we're more hopeful than ever because this may be the beginning of the end of I-69," Tom Tokarski of Citizens for Appropriate Rural Roads said. So now the road begins. http://www.wthitv.com/Global/story.asp?S=8687033&nav=menu593_2
Also, http://www.wlfi.com/Global/story.asp?S=8685137
Also, http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008807170414

Changes coming to Blackiston Mill Road
The News and Tribune
Tara Hettinger
7/16/08

The Floyd County Commissioners awarded bids Tuesday to repair bridge number 51 on Blackiston Mill Road and replace bridge number 21 on John Pectol Road. EZ Construction was awarded the bid to repair the bridge for $89,821.35. Fulkerson Contracting won the bid for the replacement project alternate one for $217,087.54 and alternate two for $210,000. Both of EZ's alternate bids came in lower than the others received. The bids for the City-County Building project were read and taken under advisement. That project includes fashioning a new superior court on the fourth floor, which needs to be ready by Jan. 1.
http://www.news-tribune.net/local/local_story_198140929.html

Worry, concerns water under the US 24 bridge
INDOT officials present early plans for Washington Street Bridge during public meeting.
Herald Journal
Scott Allen
7/17/08

Plans that were only described last month have begun to solidify for the Washington Street/U.S. Highway 24 Bridge, along with a tentative schedule for the project. Previously, emotions about the construction of a new bridge in a different location ran high as Monticello residents and business owners were concerned that it would disrupt commerce and not make the crossing any safer. During a public information meeting Tuesday, INDOT officials offered preliminary details of the location of the new bridge. The bridge is planned to begin on the east side just north of the current bridge's location, continuing across the river and stretching over Tall Timbers Marina. It will end by connecting on the west side to the current location of Washington Street. A much more gradual curve and a slighter grade on the east side will help prevent crashes in the problematic area. http://www.thehj.com/main.asp?SectionID=9&SubSectionID=32&ArticleID=23899&TM=21817.42

Hillegas, U.S. 30 work to begin
Fort Wayne Journal Gazette
Anne Gregory
7/16/08

The Indiana Department of Transportation expects to start repairing the Hillegas Road bridge over U.S. 30 on Thursday evening. The repair work, which is limited to the westbound lanes on U.S. 30, will be done from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. each evening, with at least one lane remaining open, according to an announcement from the city of Fort Wayne. The southbound lanes of Hillegas Road will remain closed between Washington Center Road and Coliseum Boulevard Extended until the repair is complete in mid-August, depending on weather. http://www.journalgazette.net/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080716/LOCAL/554324432/1002/LOCAL

2-lane traffic circle planned
$3.1 million roundabout centered at Olio, Ind. 238 to be county's largest
The Indianapolis Star
John Tuohy
7/17/08

Fishers is planning to build a $3.1 million, two-lane roundabout to ease traffic through what will be two busy intersections near I-69's Exit 10. The traffic circle, the biggest in Hamilton County, was the most logical way to keep cars moving through two intersections that are only 400 feet apart, said Jeff Heiking, the public works director for Fishers. It also will connect Olio Road with a bridge over I-69 that Noblesville is planning. The roundabout will be centered at the crossroads of Ind. 238 and Olio Road, but it will have five "spokes" instead of four. In addition to sending traffic east and west on 238 and north and south on Olio, the fifth leg will direct drivers to westbound 136th Street, 400 feet south of the Olio and Ind. 238 intersection. http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008807170322

S'ville road project to begin next week
The NWI Times
Vanessa Renderman
7/17/08

SCHERERVILLE | Work on a multimillion-dollar road project is scheduled to begin next week. Crews are expected to start construction Monday on St. John Road. On Monday night, the town, the engineer and the contractor will meet with neighborhood residents to talk about the project and answer questions. The Town Council recently awarded the project to low bidder Rex Construction. Although the estimated cost was $3.3 million, the contract was awarded at a little less than $2.8 million. The project will be paid for using tax increment financing dollars, Town Council President Hal Slager said. Crews will rebuild St. John Road from U.S. 30 to about 300 yards south of 77th Avenue, which is about a 1.1-mile stretch of road. http://www.nwitimes.com/articles/2008/07/17//news/lake_county/doc30140b7b22a2761d8625748800826c41.txt