Infrastructure News Summary
For June 24, 2008
SUMMER CONSTRUCTION: THE GOOD, THE BAD, THE UGLY
The NWI Times
Keith Benman & Joyce Russell
6/24/08
The summer travel season will open with motorists finding the usual road
repair projects slowing traffic in some places and major construction projects
snarling it to a standstill in others. It will be a little easier to negotiate
the construction mess at the Borman/Interstate-65 interchange as one major
bridge project will be completed next week, according to Indiana Department of
Transportation spokesman Joshua Bingham. The northbound I-65 bridge, which
passes over CSX railroad tracks and the ramp to the westbound Borman Expressway,
should be open to traffic before July 4, Bingham said. Northbound motorists now
must switch lanes onto the southbound bridge to get over those two obstacles if
they want to get to the eastbound Borman. Improvements in the situation can't
come too soon for motorists, many of whom avoid the interchange entirely and
will continue to do so until the $187 million project is completed in early
December. http://www.thetimesonline.com/articles/2008/06/24/news/top_news/docda2c455133374c5c86257471007ad907.txt
COMMISSIONERS AREA REVIEW BRIDGE QUOTES
The Brazil Times
Jason Jacobs
6/23/08
With the recent floods damaging many local roads and bridges, the Clay County
Commissioners are doing what they can to make repairs. During their special
meeting Monday morning, the commissioners opened quotes to replace one bridge
and two culverts that were washed out earlier this month. Due to the need to
make the repairs and replacements as soon as possible, the commissioners
declared all three projects as emergency situations. The bridge is located on
County Road 100 South, one-quarter mile west of CR 600 W in Perry Township, One
of the culverts that was washed out was over Little Birch Creek along CR 600 N,
just west of CR 300 W in Posey Township, while the other is across Clear Creek
in Perry Township on CR 200 S, between CR 425 and 525 W. With the culvert
washing into the woods on CR 200 S, approximately 100 feet of the road
collapsed. http://www.thebraziltimes.com/story/1439285.html
NORTHWEST FORT WAYNE TRAFFIC NIGHTMARE WORSENS
Indiana's News Center
Peter Neumann
6/23/08
The traffic mess on Fort Wayne's northwest side is about to get much worse
Thursday, June 26th, thanks to a planned three week long road widening project
that will close Washington Center Road to all traffic between Huegenard (Hillegas)
and Goshen Road (U.S. 33). The section of road has already caused delays for
motorists who've wasted plenty of gas sitting in long lines trying to get
through the construction zone on Washington Center Road. Last week, southbound
traffic on Hillegas was barred after roadway beams on the bridge overpass over
U.S. 30/33 were damaged by a westbound wrecker truck. Repairs are expected to
take three weeks. This has already caused plenty of frustration for motorists,
many of whom are forced to go east and cross I-69 on Lima Road. Now comes the
widening project on Washington Center Road. Contractor Primco. Incorporated
needs three weeks to finish this section of road, part of the U.S. 33
interchange improvement, work that the contractor will do about the same time
that the overpass repair is being done on Hillegas. http://www.indianasnewscenter.com/news/local/20663379.html
MAPLECREST DECISION TUESDAY
Fort Wayne Journal Gazette
6/23/08
After weeks of debate, Allen County Council members are scheduled to vote
Tuesday on the controversial 1.5-mile extension of Maplecrest Road. Though
council members have legitimate concerns, the road will provide a long-needed
north-south road over the Maumee River connecting the east side of Fort Wayne
with New Haven and should be approved. Yes, the $50 million cost seems high,
largely because much of the project consists of bridges. Yes, the commissioners
should have moved faster, and delays have driven up the cost. Yes, details still
need to be worked out about whether truck traffic on the road should be limited.
But the road will provide long-needed access over the river near railroad tracks
that frequently tie up New Haven streets. Both the immediate effects of the
construction project and long-term ramifications for economic development make
the cost worth it. The county could well lose the $11 million Congress
appropriated for the road. http://www.journalgazette.net/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080623/EDIT07/806230304
INDOT EYES ROUNDABOUTS FOR U.S. 31 IMPROVEMENTS
WTHR
Chris Proffitt
6/23/08
Carmel - Part of the governor's Major Moves program may include roundabouts
to upgrade U.S. 31 between Indianapolis and South Bend. Carmel is one Indiana
city that's clearly embraced the roundabout - a one way traffic stream around an
island. There are 35 in the city so far, with 15 more planned in the next two
years. Motorists who were once skeptical of the traffic pattern have come to
appreciate the roundabouts, saying they speed up the commute. The Indiana
Department of Transportation is taking a cue from Carmel in expanding U.S. 31,
where as many as 100,000 daily drivers use the main north-south route to South
Bend. The department is recommending elevated or below grade roundabouts on U.S.
31 at 131st and 136th Streets. http://www.wthr.com/Global/story.asp?S=8543196
VIGO CO. ROAD REPAIRS COULD COST $11 MILLION
myWabashValley
Andrea Dessoffy
6/23/08
Drivers in some parts of the valley are finding themselves stuck. That's
because recent flooding has left many Vigo County roads in shambles. Engineers
estimate it'll cost $11million to clean up the mess. The county recently learned
FEMA will cover 75% of those costs, but that still leaves more than $2.5
million. One of the biggest expenses will be fixing or rebuilding county
bridges. A bridge on Pottsville Road came off its foundation. Besides the
obvious repaving and rebuilding work, engineers say they must repair things like
pipe structures. http://mywabashvalley.com/content/fulltext/?cid=12201
ELKHART COUNTY: LOW BIDS COULD PAVE WAY TO MORE WORK
The Truth Newspaper
Tim Vandenack
6/24/08
GOSHEN -- Bids for a portion of Elkhart County's paving program are in, and
if the low proposal, $1.35 million, turns out to be the winner, more roadway
than first anticipated could see new asphalt. The initial phase of the annual
program -- meant to maintain the county's network of roads -- calls for repaving
15.3 miles of roadway. But with three of four bids coming in at less than $2
million, the original estimated price tag for the first phase of work, funds
could be available to address additional road needs. For now, County
Transportation Manager Jeff Taylor, who had yet to review the proposals, remains
tight-lipped about the prospects. He opened the bids Monday at the weekly
gathering of the Elkhart County commissioners and plans to come back next week
with a recommendation on which to accept. http://www.etruth.com/Know/News/Story.aspx?ID=454069