Infrastructure News Summary
For June 9, 2008

ASPHALT PRICES HITTING THE ROAD, COST OF OIL LIMITING REPAIRS IN VANDERBURGH COUNTY
Evansville Courier & Press
Thomas Langhorne
6/9/08

Rising gasoline prices are an unhappy fact of American life - but the rising cost of oil-based asphalt is affecting your drive time, too. Mirroring a nationwide trend, increases in the price to pave roads will force Vanderburgh County to cut by more than a quarter the county-maintained roadways it can repair during the April-to-September orange barrel season. The nearly 22 miles of road the Vanderburgh County Commissioners approved last week for base and surface repair is 26 percent less than last year's total of more than 29 miles - which was down from the previous year's 35 miles. "The money available for paving is $1.1 million this year, which is only about $55,000 less than last year - but then again, the price of asphalt is up too," said County Auditor Bill Fluty Jr. http://www.courierpress.com/news/2008/jun/09/asphalt-prices-hittingthe-road/

STOVE ROAD TO CLOSE IN LAWRENCE CO.
The Times-Mail
6/7/08

BEDFORD - The Indiana Department of Transportation reports a portion of Stove Road in Lawrence County will close Monday. The closure is needed to allow construction crews to place a drainage pipe under Stove Road. This work is taking place for a bridge replacement project on U.S. 50 over the South Fork of Leatherwood Creek. The structure is about two miles west of the U.S. 50 and Ind. 446 junction. The closure will begin on Monday and the road is expected to re-open to traffic July 31, weather permitting. http://www.tmnews.com/stories/2008/06/07/news.nw-812270.tms

ARROWS, SIGNS TO HELP ST. JOE-EVARD AREA
Fort Wayne Journal Gazette
Benjamin Lanka
6/7/08

A project to enhance driver safety in northern Fort Wayne has changed, but it is still planned.
Q. We have had rather good weather for a while now. Has my idea gone on the back burner for new lane markings for the intersection of Evard and St. Joe roads? Can you advise? - E-mail from John Walker of Fort Wayne.
A. John, thanks for being so persistent in wanting to improve safety in your area. I know this intersection is getting more traffic with the construction on St. Joe Center Road, but fear not, as there are improvements coming. Shan Gunawardena, Fort Wayne traffic engineer, said the city re-examined the intersection recently and determined that some new lines might be confusing for vehicles turning left from Evard to St. Joe Road. http://www.journalgazette.net/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080607/LOCAL0203/806070350/1002/LOCAL

QUICKLY'S NEIGHBORS/PORTER COUNTY
Post-Tribune
6/6/08

Did Duneland look toward the Burns Harbor area? With the way it is growing, they should get the next school built in that under-served area. Why can't Lake and Porter counties get together and pave County Line Road between U.S. 20 and U.S. 12? This road has been in sad shape for years. The politicians ought to be embarrassed. As a Republican, I blame Jon Costas and think he needs to step up and take responsibility for his actions. I blame him for the new roads, sidewalks, re-invigorated downtown, bike trails, new parks and everything else that improves the lives of this town's citizens. We are "uptight" about the construction on Lincolnway because there also is construction on U.S. 30. There was no need to tie up the two main east-west arteries at the same time. Am I supposed to drive U.S. 30 to Indiana 2 to Indiana 49 to County Road 400 North to Campbell to Indiana 130 just to get past it? http://www.post-trib.com/news/quickly/989858,pquickly.article

BRIDGE IN HARMONY COLLAPSES
The Brazil Times
Corena Herniter
6/5/08

HARMONY?-- A bridge in Harmony collapsed sometime between Tuesday night and Wednesday morning on Jackson Street. What remains is a large sinkhole with gravel rock dumped on both sides of the hole. Jack Withers, Clay County Commissioner, told The Times the road is not heavily traveled and the county has to maintain it primarily to gain access to the Redman Cemetery. According to a representative of the Clay County Highway Department, a tube from an existing culvert will be used in place of purchasing a new tube. The bridge construction is in the planning stages and the road will remain closed until repairs can be made. http://www.thebraziltimes.com/story/1434740.html

A PORTION OF WINFIELD'S 109TH TO CLOSE FOR FIVE MONTHS
The NWI Times
Ann Marie Campbell
6/7/08

WINFIELD |The five-month closing of a major east-west thoroughfare between Winfield and Crown Point is sure to contribute to driving headaches already present in this south Lake County town. The Lake County Highway Department announced it will be closing 109th Avenue at Colorado Street for bridge repairs Monday in a project expected to last five months. The county plans to detour traffic north on Colorado to 97th Avenue, then east to Randolph Street. But some Winfield residents will experience a bit more inconvenience because only three of the town's roads -- Colorado, Arizona, and Grand -- run north from 109th, and Arizona and Grand present additional problems. Arizona runs from 109th to 101st Avenue, but 101st running west has been closed by the town of Merrillville for the past six months because of flooding. And Grand Boulevard, although passable, needs major repairs, which Winfield officials hope to begin at summer's end. The intersection of Grand and 109th also has been the site of several accidents because of a restricted "line of sight" coming off Grand, town officials said. http://www.thetimesonline.com/articles/2008/06/07/news/lake_county/doca7bdcd55ef697342862574610010794e.txt

TERRE HAUTE RECEIVES $5 MILLION FROM DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
WTHI-TV
6/5/08

The city of Terre Haute received a large check in order to take over a state highway. The Indiana Department of Transportation has gave Terre Haute a section of State Road 63 from Lombardi Street north to U.S. 41 at Hulman Street. So today, a $5 million check was presented to Mayor Duke Bennett for the upkeep of the roadway. Bennett said even though it's a unfamiliar highway, it will benefit those who use it or will use it in the future. The mayor says that this money will be used for snow removal, pavement of the road, and any additional work that may need to be done. http://www.wthitv.com/Global/story.asp?S=8436720

ROAD WILL BE CLOSED FOR BRIDGE REPLACEMENT
Palladium-Item
6/7/08

EATON, Ohio -- Fairhaven Road between Fairhaven-College Corner Road and Ohio 177 will be closed for approximately four weeks, the Preble County Engineer's Office said Friday. The road, which is in Israel Township, is being closed for a bridge replacement. July 4 is the projected re-opening date, according to the Preble County Engineer's Web site. http://www.pal-item.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080607/NEWS01/806070306/1008