Infrastructure News Summary
For July 31, 2008

No quick fix for Ind. 144 bridge
The Mooresville-Decatur
Amy Hillenburg
7/30/08

There won't be any temporary fix to the flood-damaged bridge and road on Indiana 144 across from the Mooresville Senior Center, according to Marvin Jenkins, spokesman for the Seymour District of the Indiana Department of Transportation. Despite the pleas of Mooresville School Superintendent Curt Freeman, the bridge will not be traffic ready before the first of September. And on top of that, INDOT's Greenfield District spokesman Will Wingfield said the intersection of Hadley Road and Indiana 67 is now closed for about two weeks while the contractor adds some turn lanes and improvements near St. Francis Hospital-Mooresville. Wingfield said it was not their wish that this work should coincide with the road construction in front of Neil Armstrong Elementary, or the reconstruction of the 144 bridge. http://www.reporter-times.com/stories/2008/07/30/mdtnews.qp-3994081.sto

AP IMPACT: Little progress since bridge collapse
Fort Wayne Journal Gazette
Robert Tanner, Steve Karnowski And Frank Bass
7/29/08

A year after the worst U.S. bridge collapse in a generation brought calls for immediate repairs to other spans, two of every three of the busiest problem bridges in each state - carrying nearly 40 million vehicles a day - have had no work beyond regular maintenance. An Associated Press review of repairs on each state's 20 most-traveled bridges with structural deficiencies found just 12 percent have been fixed. In most states, the most common approach was to plan for repairs later rather than fix problems now. The bridges reviewed by the AP - 1,020 in all - are not in imminent danger of collapse, state engineers and highway officials say. But the officials acknowledge the structures need improvement, many sooner rather than later. http://www.journalgazette.net/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080730/APA/807300846&template=apart

New Albany mayor pleased with bids on industrial roads
The News and Tribune
Daniel Suddeath
7/30/08

New Albany Mayor Doug England feels the rehabilitation of roads in the city's northern and southern industrial parks will help retain businesses. The Redevelopment Commission awarded the contract for rebuilding roads at the parks Tuesday, to Gohmann Asphalt and Construction Inc., of Clarksville. They submitted the lowest of three bids, winning the contract with an asking price of $787,800. The estimate for the work was $1 million, but all the bids came in under that amount. John Rosenbarger, director of facilities for public works, asked the commission to allow staff to review the winning bid on the same day it was opened, so the rehab work could begin as soon as possible. http://www.newsandtribune.com/local/local_story_212111232.html

Update On SR 246 Work
My Wabash Valley
7/30/08

State Road 246 is still in shambles and the original timeline to complete the repairs has come and gone.
Instead of roadway, a giant hole stands in the way of drivers trying to make it to U.S. 41. The Indiana Department of Transportation says that maintenance crews were not able to fix the roadway because of the size of the hole. Estimates put the washout as deep as 25 feet. INDOT has hired an emergency contractor to fix the road but it could take a few months to get it repaired. INDOT says instead of replacing the roadway crews will build a small bridge in the hopes of preventing a similar situation in the future.
http://mywabashvalley.com/content/fulltext/?cid=17211

INDOT: North Main Street in Winchester to get new look
Palladium-Item
7/30/08

WINCHESTER, Ind. - North Main Street in Winchester will be rebuilt with new pavement and new sidewalks including combined curbs and gutters, according to a press release from the Indiana Department of Transportation. Beneath the surface of Main Street, a new storm sewer will be constructed. The start of work has not been scheduled, but INDOT has accepted a low bid of $1,084,340.61 from L.I.C.A. Construction Corporation of Berne, the same highway contractor completing the U.S. 27 resurfacing project that came through Winchester. Work will begin on North Main from South Street to Franklin, with a paving exception to Washington Street. Construction will begin again at Washington and extend to the railroad tracks north of Pearl Street. http://www.pal-item.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080730/UPDATES/80730015/1008/NEWS01

Contract awarded for Ind. 1 rebuilding
The Star Press
7/30/08

REDKEY - A $3,179,716 construction contract has been awarded for rebuilding Ind. 1 through Redkey. E&B Paving of Anderson submitted the low bid for reconstructing .79 miles of pavement along Meridian Street from Wayne Avenue to Boyce Street. Last repaved in 2001, the highway's surface is at curb height in places, contributing to drainage problems, according to a press release from the Indiana Department of Transportation. Meanwhile, the old brick base has deteriorated, requiring full-depth replacement of the roadbed. The Major Moves project will include five lifts of asphalt and construction of storm sewers, under drains, curbs, gutters and sidewalks. http://www.thestarpress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080730/NEWS01/807300323/1002