Infrastructure News Summary
For June 23, 2008
FLOODING SHIFTS PRIORITIES FOR BRIDGE AND ROAD REPAIRS
Bloomington Herald Times
Bethany Nolan
6/23/08
Flooding from storms that swamped central and southern Indiana, including
Monroe, Greene, Owen and Morgan counties, have bumped some road work projects
and bridge repairs to the top of the list. Two bridges in Monroe County - one on
North Old Ind. 37 just north of Anderson Road, and a second on Wolf Mountain
Road near Stinesville - have climbed to the top of the "to-do" list
after both suffered damage from all that water, county engineer Bill Williams
said.
Here's a look at some other new priorities in area counties, thanks to the
overabundance of water:
A road project in Greene County on Ind. 57 from Ind. 54 to the double pony truss
bridges that are the gateway to Newberry is set back by the flooding, according
to the Indiana Department of Transportation's Vincennes district spokeswoman
Cher Goodwin. Also in Greene County, Ind. 157 between Bloomfield and Worthington
is still closed because portions of it were washed away in the flooding.
Another project for INDOT that's taken precedence is a bridge over Fish Creek on
Ind. 46 in Owen County, about four miles west of Spencer, according to INDOT's
Seymour district spokesman Marvin Jenkins.
In Morgan County, two roads need work after being drowned in high water. Ind.
144 from Ind. 37 to Ind. 67 needs work after a large pipe under the road washed
out - that's expected to cost $300,000.
For more information, please call TRIAD at 1-800-288-7423.
ROAD WORK A WELCOME SIGHT
Times-Mail News
6/20/08
After more than a decade of planning, obtaining funding and behind-the-scenes
work, Mitchell's long-touted Hamilton Boulevard is now under construction, with
work on the first phase of the project visible on the city's northeast side.
That construction opens up the 98-acre industrial park for development and
infrastructure. Now, most recognize the need for the development of Hamilton
Boulevard and the industrial park it will open up. Throughout Lawrence County,
factories have closed their doors, shuttering thousands of jobs. Work is scarce
and any opportunity for economic development is welcomed. The road is being
constructed in three phases, and the city of Mitchell has received nearly $10
million for its construction, and another $1 million will be tossed in by an
anonymous donor. The first phase of the road will stretch from Meridian Road to
Rabbitsville Road. The second phase will bring the road east from Ind. 37 to
Rabbitsville Road. The third phase will be the construction of a bridge that
will bring the road over the railroad. http://www.tmnews.com/stories/2008/06/20/opinion.nw-978458.tms
COUNTY'S LAST COVERED BRIDGE GETS A NEW LIFE SPAN
The Shelbyville News
Ron Hamilton
6/20/08
The old Cedar Ford Bridge, Shelby County's last surviving wood-covered span,
is about to find a fourth and final home - in Monroe County. In an ironic and
bittersweet story of resurrection and preservation, the old bridge, last seen
being hauled away in pieces by a Rush County woodworker to be stored in a barn
for 18 years, soon will be reassembled a few miles northwest of Bloomington.
According to Monroe County officials, it will replace the old McMillan Covered
Bridge on North Maple Road, which spanned Bean Blossom Creek until it was
destroyed by arsonists in 1976. Monroe County recently was awarded $712,000 in
federal grant money to help pay for relocating the bridge that once spanned the
Little Blue River on German Road a few miles east of Shelbyville. The
announcement was made in May by U.S. Rep. Baron Hill, D-Seymour. http://www.shelbynews.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=93&ArticleID=56142&TM=62707.98
CAN CONGRESS REALLY LOWER GAS PRICES?
DESPITE ALL THE RHETORIC, THERE'S LITTLE POLITICIANS CAN DO THIS SUMMER
The Star Press
6/21/08
Will Congress do something to cut gas prices before you drive off to the
beach this summer? Not a chance, energy experts say. The truth is that despite
the flurry of bills being debated on Capitol Hill, Congress cannot control the
global price of oil nor offer real help for beleaguered American drivers now or
in the near future, analysts say. Many of the solutions lawmakers are proposing
-- from drilling in the Alaskan wilderness to boosting the use of renewable
energy -- would take years or even decades to have an impact. Congress has no
power over the worldwide demand for oil, which is being fueled in large part by
developing nations such as India and China with an insatiable hunger for energy,
said Bob O'Brien, the online stocks editor at Barrons.com. http://www.thestarpress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080621/BUSINESS/806210329/1046
26 INDIANA COUNTIES ELIGIBLE FOR FEDERAL PUBLIC ASSISTANCE
WANE-TV
6/22/08
INDIANAPOLIS - Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels received news Sunday from the
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) that 26 Indiana counties are now
eligible for federal public assistance (PA) to repair infrastructure. Counties
approved are Bartholomew, Brown, Clay, Daviess, Decatur, Greene, Hancock, Henry,
Jackson, Jennings, Johnson, Knox, Madison, Monroe, Morgan, Owen, Parke, Pike,
Putnam, Randolph, Rush, Shelby, Sullivan, Vermillion, Vigo and Washington. This
public assistance declaration means state government and local governments and
certain non-profit organizations in these counties are now eligible to apply for
federal public assistance funds to pay 75 percent of the approved cost of debris
removal, emergency services related to the disaster and repairing or replacing
damaged public facilities, such as roads, buildings and utilities. http://www.wane.com/Global/story.asp?S=8537180&nav=menu32_2
STREET SAVVY - ONGOING ROAD WORK IN, AROUND ELKHART
The Truth Newspaper
6/23/08
The next phase of Elkhart's Streetscape begins today, requiring the closure
of Main Street between High and Franklin streets. The street, sidewalks and
water and sewer lines will be replaced in the stretch as part of the project,
which should last around 30 days.
Other planned projects this coming week, weather permitting that may affect
traffic flow for area motorists:
o Milling of Junior Achievement Drive from Jackson Boulevard south to where it
dead-ends on Tuesday.
o Milling of Jackson Boulevard from Main Street east to Junior Achievement Drive
on Tuesday.
o Milling of Prairie Street from Indiana Avenue north to the railroad crossing
just past Main Street on Wednesday.
o Milling of the Prairie and Main streets intersection on Wednesday.
o Completion of spot paving on John Weaver Parkway on Thursday. Traffic flow
will be restricted.
o Possible paving of the milled portions of Junior Achievement Drive and Jackson
Boulevard on Friday.
http://www.etruth.com/Know/News/Story.aspx?ID=453788
INTERSECTION WILL GET $1.1M MAKEOVER
The Indianapolis Star
6/22/08
The crowded, chaotic intersection at Dan Jones Road and U.S. 36 will get a
makeover in 2009. The town plans to add another through lane on Dan Jones at the
intersection, which will let more cars through each light cycle and reduce
backups that can go for more than a quarter-mile. Public Works Director Ryan
Cannon said something needs to be done to relieve northbound traffic backups
over the CSX railroad bridge south of U.S. 36 during rush hour. Construction on
the $1.1 million project will begin in summer 2009, with completion by the
following winter. http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008806220417