Infrastructure News Summary
For July 23, 2008
La Porte Has Pothole Problem
The News-Dispatch
Joseph Malan
7/22/08
LA PORTE - Unfavorable road conditions around the city of La Porte could be
having an effect on how much the local consumer pays at the pump. Some secondary
and residential roads around the city are not only in need of a facelift, they
could impact how much gas mileage a driver can get out of their vehicle. Even
though the direct effect may be small, Jay Searing says awful roads can
ultimately lead to a bad automobile. http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&ArticleID=16116&TM=35952
I-465, I-69 project design underway
Noblesville Daily Times
7/22/08
The Indiana Department of Transportation announced Monday the launch of the
Interstate 465/69 Northeast project design. The $567 million project will
dramatically widen and rebuild 8 miles of I-465 and more than 2 miles of I-69 in
northeastern Marion County. The 465/69 Northeast project will upgrade I-465 from
just east of U.S. 31/Meridian Street to the bridge over Fall Creek, and I-69
from 75th Street to just south of 96th Street and is expected to relieve weekday
congestion for half of the busy I-69 commuting corridor between the I-465 and
Indiana 37 exits. More than 150,000 vehicles move through the project corridor
each day, making it one of the most heavily traveled in the state. Construction
is scheduled to start on the west end of the project in 2012. Work to widen I-69
north of the I-465 interchange is scheduled to begin no later than 2014. INDOT
is also planning to bid a separate $9 million Major Moves contract in 2009 for
I-69 interim improvements in Hamilton County.
http://www.county29.net/cms2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=16478&Itemid=230
Whitewater byway gains official
status, starts in Hagerstown
Palladium-Item
7/22/08
HAGERSTOWN, Ind. - The proposed route for the Whitewater Canal Scenic Byway
was officially designated today by Indiana Department of Transportation
Commissioner Karl Browning. Gaining scenic byway status has been a goal of a
multi-county group that wants to promote the area's history to tourists and for
economic development. Scenic byways are routes that tell stories of historical
significance, with the Whitewater Canal a major transportation route for Indiana
settlers and commercial investors in the 1830s. The 76-mile scenic byway begins
at a stone monument in Hagerstown on Ind. 38, goes south on Ind. 1 to Cambridge
City, west on Delaware Street to Green Street and south to U.S. 40.
http://www.pal-item.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080722/UPDATES/80722027/1008/NEWS01
Board approves start on bridge
replacement
The Herald Bulletin
7/22/08
ANDERSON - At its regular meeting Tuesday, the Anderson Board of Public Works
approved a contract to replace a bridge on North Shore Boulevard. Bridge
structure 10, which goes over a small ravine where water sometimes flows, will
cost about $75,000 to replace, said Michael Spyers, city engineer. The structure
sits close to a residential area, near Anderson-Frankton Road on the city's
northwest side. Spyers said the bridge dates back to the 1930s. Age
deterioration and hydraulic capacity made the replacement necessary. The
contract approved on Tuesday was for USI engineering for $20,400 to do primary
work. http://www.theheraldbulletin.com/local/local_story_204223552.html
Legacy OK'd to use tax funds for
roads
The Indianapolis Star
Melanie Hayes
7/23/08
Pittman Partners will spend the majority of $8.6 million in tax increment
financing it receives from the city to build roads for The Legacy development on
146th Street. For weeks, the Carmel City Council debated whether to approve the
funds because the developer's request included using the money for streets
inside the development. Monday, four of the seven council members voted in favor
of it. Steve Pittman of Pittman Partners said Tuesday he couldn't see how these
road projects could be perceived as a bad thing for anyone, but he does
appreciate the discussions led by the council. The developer plans to rebuild
River Road from 146th Street to the Haverstick neighborhood; extend Cherry Creek
Boulevard as a connector street from the western property line to River Road;
and build a road from Legacy's main entry at 146th to the Cherry Creek Boulevard
extension. http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008807230328
Congress should not raise gas tax
Journal & Courier
7/22/08
For those who are screaming about gasoline prices, prepare to howl. Congress
is kicking around the idea of raising the gasoline excise tax by 10 cents.
Currently, 18.4 cents of every gallon goes to the federal Highway Trust Fund and
finances road maintenance and construction. There's no way that Congress can
come out a winner here. They are the proverbial bad guys and a single-digit
approval rating confirms that voters aren't happy with the House and Senate's
job performance. Congress hasn't raised the gasoline excise tax in 15 years, and
as recently as 2005, the Highway Trust Fund had a healthy surplus. Rising
gasoline prices, however, persuaded Americans to park the car more, meaning less
gasoline was sold and the trust fund's surplus withered. http://jconline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080723/OPINION01/807230302