Infrastructure News Summary
For July 18, 2008

Bid for street project too high
Groups work together to see Battle Ground road improved
Journal & Courier
Eric Weddle
7/18/08

BATTLE GROUND -- The planned reconstruction of Railroad Street, the major downtown road here, has hit a snag. Wednesday morning the Indiana Department of Transportation received a bid about $110,000 higher than the previously estimated cost for the project that includes drainage improvements and new sidewalks. Previously the work was estimated to cost about $900,000 with 80 percent covered by federal dollars and Battle Ground paying the remainder. Originally planned for 2002, the project will rebuild three blocks of Railroad Street from Prophet Street through the intersection of North and Main streets at the railroad crossing. The curbside catch basins and the underground drains will be installed in the new road. Utilities underneath the sidewalk will also be replaced. http://www.jconline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080718/NEWS/807180328

River Road gets 'scenic byway' designation
Journal & Courier
Dorothy Schneider
7/17/08

State officials have designated a 13-mile stretch beginning at Indiana 43's junction with Interstate 65 and running south to Ross Hills Park as a scenic byway. The road winds along the Wabash River and incorporates sections of U.S. 231, North and South River roads and Division Road. The scenic byway status "is not just something nice," explained Stan Lambert, executive director of the Wabash River Enhancement Corp. "It's got real, substantial benefits." It will allow local government to apply for grant funding from the national byway program to improve scenic and recreational assets along the road. Also, Bridges hopes, it will boost the local tourism economy. http://www.jconline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080717/NEWS09/80717023

Decaying site may become road
Town looks at buying land for use by 3rd fire station
The Indianapolis Star
Bruce Smith
7/18/08

A long-abandoned house that police say was once used for making illegal drugs may be torn down to make way for a road into a new fire station on the eastside of Plainfield. A third town fire station is planned for construction next year along Airtech Parkway, a new road in the Airtech industrial park area of warehouses and distribution centers. The Town Council plans to buy the ramshackle property at 3239 Clover Drive, which is just west of the proposed fire station, which will face Airtech. http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008807180333