Infrastructure News Summary
For June 12, 2008

VALPO URGED TO PURSUE MORE GRANTS
Post-Tribune
Daniel Human
6/11/08

VALPARAISO -- Chamber of Commerce members lauded the efforts to improve the city's economic corridors Tuesday, but the luncheon's main speaker insisted if the city is going to continue improving, more federal grant money and wise expenditures are the keys. Stu Summers, director of the Valparaiso Redevelopment Commission, addressed chamber members about the status of the city's redevelopment projects, which total $11.7 million -- 80 percent of the total costs -- in federal grants. Summers highlighted construction on Lincolnway, emphasizing improved efficiency from the roundabout at Lincolnway, LaPorte Avenue and Sturdy Road. The redevelopment commission has planned two more roundabouts, the first at Vale Park Road where it intersects with Silhavy Road. The second is planned for the five-way intersection at Calumet Avenue, Vale Park Road and Roosevelt Road, Summers said. The roundabouts will decrease the number of accidents and pollution from vehicle exhaust, he said. http://www.post-trib.com/news/998930,vchamber.article

STATE PREPARES FOR IND. 26 BRIDGE WORK AT HARTFORD CITY
The Star Press
6/11/08

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. 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. http://www.thestarpress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080611/NEWS01/806110322/1002

MASKED PROTESTERS CAUSE SCENE AT I-69 OFFICE
WINDOW BROKEN OUT OF OFFICE DOOR DURING PROTEST AGAINST EXTENSION OF I-69 THROUGH AREA
Bloomington Herald Times
Marcela Creps
6/11/08

Witnesses say protesters wearing bandannas over their faces broke a window and wrote graffiti at the I-69 office in Bloomington just after noon Wednesday. Bloomington police were called to the office at One City Centre at 12:12 p.m. According to the police report, witnesses said about a dozen men and women arrived at the building carrying a "Stop I-69" sign, marched into the building and used chalk to mark up the sidewalk, steps and the inner and outer walls. A chunk of concrete was thrown, reportedly by a protester, breaking out a glass pane in the entry door. The protesters then scattered and were gone by the time police arrived. Mayor Mark Kruzan, who opposes I-69 himself, released a statement that he was more opposed to violent protesters. Kruzan said Wednesday's protesters used "misdirected energy."
"Violent action is a disservice to our community's reputation and, in fact, does nothing but hurt the protesters' own cause," Kruzan's statement read. "Anything other than peaceful protest of the highway project is simply not acceptable." The proposed extension of I-69 has caused widespread debate in southern Indiana as the state moves forward with plans to extend the interstate from Indianapolis to Evansville.
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Also, http://www.wlfi.com/Global/story.asp?S=8466365&nav=menu591_3
Also, http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080612/NEWS02/806120482/-1/NEWS

DEPARTMENT TO STUDY HIGH-RISK INTERSECTION
The Indianapolis Star
6/12/08

NEW CARLISLE, Ind. -- The state highway department plans to study a northern Indiana intersection that this week saw at least its fifth fatal crash in 11 years. Scott McMahon, 43, of South Bend died Tuesday night in the crash on Indiana 2 when he was driving on a county road, ran a stop sign and was broadsided a semitrailer, state police said. A South Bend woman was killed and three other people were sent to the hospital after a 16-year-old driver also failed to stop at the same intersection in March. State Trooper Geoffery Grouber told the South Bend Tribune that trees along Indiana 2 make it difficult for drivers on the highway to see traffic approaching on the county road. The Indiana Department of Transportation plans to study the intersection, said Joshua Bingham, a spokesman for the agency's LaPorte district. http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080612/NEWS02/806130303/-1/NEWS