Infrastructure News Summary
For June 4, 2008

ROAD CONSTRUCTION GOES UP, DRIVERS URGED TO SLOW DOWN
WLFI
6/3/08

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - Road construction work will increase in the Lafayette area this summer. But as more crews fix the roads, they urge drivers to watch out. Indiana Department of Transportation spokeswoman Debbie Calder said construction will continue on State Road 26 East at County Road 500 East, by the Meijer store. The $11.3 million project will add two lanes in each direction and is set to end in May of next year. Lafayette City Engineer Jenny Bonner said work will begin to widen County Road 350 South between 9th Street and Concord Road in August. That move will create four lanes in the area, a center median and lighting. Bonner said there will be about five more projects as well. http://www.wlfi.com/Global/story.asp?S=8413768&nav=menu591_3

MONON TRAIL DETOUR FOR INSTALLATION OF BRIDGE AT CARMEL DRIVE
Noblesville Daily Times
6/3/08

Carmel, IN - Please be advised of an upcoming closure on the Monon Trail and its detour from 116th Street to City Center Drive. This closure is required for the construction of a pedestrian and bicycle bridge over Carmel Drive. The work will last approximately four months. During this time there will be a detour available for Monon users from the Monon under the 116th Street tunnel then west on 116th Street to Guilford Road north to City Center Drive and continuing east to the Monon Trail (description is from the south heading north). The closure is scheduled to begin on Thursday June 5th. Advanced warning signage will be placed prior to the closing for notification to Monon Trail users. http://www.county29.net/cms2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=14843&Itemid=99999999

EXPECT DELAYS ON INDIANA 43 TODAY
Journal & Courier
6/3/08

The Indiana Department of Transportation is doing the work a quarter of a mile north of County Road 600 North as part of an $8 million Major Moves project. It will widen Indiana 43 to two lanes in each direction from north of Interstate 65 and going north for two miles. Turn lanes will be added at the intersection of County Road 600 North. The construction is set to be complete in September. http://www.jconline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080603/NEWS09/80603005

CONGESTION RELIEF SOUGHT FOR HERRIMAN BOULEVARD AND 146TH STREET AREA
Journal & Courier
Rob Borders
6/3/08

Derek Williams works near the intersection of 146th Street and Herriman Boulevard. He sees the traffic backup on Herriman Boulevard trying to get onto 146th Street. One option being considered is a connecting road from Herriman to Indiana 37. The road would have a right in/right out format. It would offer a right turn onto Ind. 37 from Herriman Boulevard and a right turn onto Herriman from Ind. 37, said Dennis W. Cobb, president of First Group Engineering. Cobb presented that option, along with three other options to quell traffic concerns in that area, to Hamilton County Commissioners and highway officials Friday. Other options were a traffic signal at 146th and Herriman, a roundabout at Herriman or a roundabout at Harrison Parkway. The advantage with the connecting road is that it will provide relief at Herriman. The disadvantage, Cobb said, is that Ind. 37 is a limited-access highway through the Indiana Department of Transportation.
http://www.county29.net/cms2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=14816&Itemid=230

INDOT TO HOLD MEETINGS ON U.S. 31 MAJOR MOVES
Noblesville Daily Times
6/3/08

The Indiana Department of Transportation will have an informational open house and a public hearing at Carmel High School June 26 to seek input on all aspects of the U.S. 31 Hamilton County Major Moves project, including the environmental study and the design alternatives. Team members and engineers will be available to answer questions during the informational open house, and comments from the public hearings will be put on official record. INDOT and the Federal Highway Administration approved the Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement on May 21. The draft statement documents the potential effects of the proposed project on the U.S. 31 Hamilton County corridor. The draft also includes updated information on protected resources including a Section 4(f) evaluation and updated Section 106 documentation. Construction will begin in 2011. http://www.county29.net/cms2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=14803&Itemid=230

COUNTIES WATCHING ALLEN ON BRIDGES
Fort Wayne Journal Gazette
6/3/08

The plan by county officials to move financial responsibility over bridges within city and town limits to municipal budgets could well cause statewide repercussions. With both city and county governments facing the prospect of budget shortfalls created by the 2008 property tax legislation, local officials throughout the state will doubtless take notice of the Allen County precedent - dangerous for city and town officials but possibly a welcome opportunity for county officials. Counties have traditionally been responsible for all bridges within their borders. But Allen County's legal staff took a closer look at Indiana statutes governing bridges. And it concluded that because the county lacks a specific property tax fund to take care of bridges less than 200 feet, it has no legal responsibility for them. http://www.journalgazette.net/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080603/EDIT05/806030306