Infrastructure News Summary
For June 11, 2008

IND. 26 BRIDGE TO BE SAWED IN HALF
The Star Press
6/10/08

HARTFORD CITY - The Indiana Department of Transportation is placing construction signs this week along Ind. 26 in advance of bridge work and traffic restrictions at Little Lick Creek. Pioneer Associates was awarded the $1.6 million contract last month to demolish and replace the Ind. 26 bridge structure on Hartford City's east side, according to a press release. Once utility companies clear the right of way, a bridge crew will saw-cut the existing 83-foot span in half lengthwise. The north half will be demolished. The south half will maintain single-lane traffic flow that will alternate eastbound/westbound directed by temporary signals. Meanwhile, Blackford County Road 75 will be widened west of the bridge to increase turning space for southbound traffic from Ind. 26. This INDOT Greenfield District bridge project is located .8 miles east of Ind. 3 in Licking Township. Traffic count on an average day is 4304 vehicles. http://www.thestarpress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080610/NEWS06/80610026/1002/NEWS01

INDOT: STATE ROAD 54 IS 'SAFE' GOING INTO BLOOMFIELD; SIMPSON DITCH BRIDGE TO BE FIXED BY JUNE 27
Greene County Daily World
Nick Schneider
6/10/08

A spokesperson for the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) District Office in Vincennes says State Road 54E into Bloomfield is safe for motorists to drive on. The roadway which was closed from the State Road 57 junction -- about six miles west of Bloomfield into the Bloomfield town limits on Sunday night was reopened Tuesday. INDOT spokesperson Cher Goodwin told the Greene County Daily World Tuesday morning that the road was inspected by engineers prior to opening and it was deemed to be safe. INDOT is also making plans to repair the washed out Simpson Bridge that gave way early Monday morning on State Road 57 -- north of Prairie Chapel Church. Tentatively, INDOT wants to have the roadway repaired by June 27, but that will be dependent on the extent of damage that is shown after the flood waters subside. http://gcdailyworld.com/story/1435590.html

S.R. 66 CONNECTION UNSAFE
Tri-State Media
6/10/08

On Tuesday morning, I saw a young person on a bicycle trying to cross S.R. 66 near Pine Drive. I figured they were going to one of the many restaurants located on the north side of the highway near the Buy-Low store. Then, I remembered reading about a local developer who wanted to connect Maryjoetta Drive, a dead end street, to S.R. 66 just around the bend from Pine Drive. The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) is planning on widening S.R. 66 to four lanes and have started cutting down trees in this area. I started thinking what it would be like if Maryjoetta were connected to S.R. 66. Would drivers be able to see around the bend as they headed east? Would children try to cross the highway everyday going to the new school on Casey Road (which will be within eyesight of the proposed Maryjoetta exit onto S.R. 66)? http://www.tristate-media.com/articles/2008/06/10/warricknews/editorial/03sr66.txt

STREET RESURFACING COMING SOON IN WL
Journal & Courier
6/10/08

Construction crews could begin resurfacing some streets in West Lafayette as soon as today. West Lafayette board of works members approved a contract with Milestone Contractors to resurface sections of streets within the city Tuesday.
The contract, worth nearly $523,000, is for work on the following streets:
? Chauncey Street from South Street to Lutz Street.
? Columbia Street from Northwestern Avenue to Salisbury Street.
? Grant Street from Northwestern Avenue to Meridian Street.
? Meridian Street from Northwestern Avenue to Grant Street.
? Kalberer Road from Kent Avenue to McClure Street.
http://www.jconline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080611/NEWS/806110341