Infrastructure News Summary
For May 15, 2008

EPWORTH PROJECT CONTINUES, FINISH SET FOR OCTOBER
WFIE
Chad Sewich
5/14/08

Growing pains continue in Warrick County as another new barricade goes up on a heavily used roadway. It's been a long 11 months for Ted Brown and his Warrick County paint and body shop business. "I've lost all my drive by business." Brown's business sits in the middle of the $4.7 million Epworth Road widening project which began last July. This week the busy Oak Grove and Epworth intersection was closed, creating another barrier to customers. Brown says the hassle will be worth it, but he's looking forward to construction being over, tentatively set for October 1, weather permitting. The five lane project runs from Telephone Road to just south of Oak Grove. Up until this year, construction was ahead of schedule due to good weather. http://www.14wfie.com/Global/story.asp?S=8325126&nav=menu54_6

TOWN OF PORTER ACCEPTS BID FOR LITTLE CALUMET RIVER PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE
Chesterton Tribune
Paulene Poparad
5/14/08

For the time being it will be a bridge to nowhere, but eventually the brushed aluminum bridge to be erected this summer will span the Little Calumet River as part of the Orchard Pedestrian Way hike/bike trail slated for likely construction next year. The town of Porter Redevelopment Commission voted 5-0 Tuesday to accept the $156,650 bid including options from Gator Bridge of Georgia. Echo Bridge of New York bid $179,878 and Contech Bridge of Minnesota $229,960. Town engineer Warren Thiede said the commission will solicit separate bids in late June or July for bridge abutments and installation of the bridge, which will be located west of Waverly Road north of Hawthorne Park. The bridge, erected in sections, will be approximately 80 feet long and 10 feet wide; the commission chose vertical rails at the suggestion of member Al Raffin to deter children from climbing over them. The town received an approximately $300,000 grant for the bridge and its installation. http://www.chestertontribune.com/Town%20of%20Porter/5147%20town_of_porter_accepts_bid_for_l.htm

OVERPASS PLAN MODIFIED
Times-Union
Tim Robertson
5/14/08

A plan to reconstruct an overpass and intersection near Claypool will be modified to make way for new railroad infrastructure, according to Kosciusko County Commissioner Bob Conley. Conley attended a meeting in Indianapolis late last month with state and local officials involved in planning for the project. At Tuesday's commissioners meeting, Conley reported on the Indianapolis meeting. The project has been in the works for at least two years with the cooperative efforts of officials from the Indiana Department of Transportation, Kosciusko County, the town of Claypool, Louis-Dreyfus Commodities, and Norfolk Southern railroad company. The goal is to modify the overpass at the intersection of Ind. 15 and CR 700S, just west of Claypool, to meet Indiana Department of Transportation standards. Conley said United Consulting, an Indianapolis engineering firm, completed a study and the project was slated for 2010. However, Conley said, at last month's meeting, Norfolk Southern requested two new railroad rails to run under the overpass which were not included in the engineering study. http://www.timesuniononline.com/main.asp?SectionID=2&SubSectionID=224&ArticleID=33077&TM=69001.32

BRIDGE WORK TO CLOSE PORTION OF 256TH STREET
Noblesville Daily Times
5/14/08

Work on a bridge on 256th Street between Gwinn Road and Scherer Avenue will begin May 27 and force a road closure for about two months. The road is expected to be open Aug. 1, said Matt Knight, bridge engineer for the Hamilton County Highway Department. Crews will place a concrete overlay on the deck, replace the bridge railing and approach guardrail, and add a few other repairs and improvements to the substructure of the bridge, Knight said. Allisonville Road bridge over Stony Creek will close June 2. That bridge is expected to be open Aug. 1, Knight added. http://www.county29.net/cms2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=14075&Itemid=230

DESIGNS ON NEXT PHASE OF ELKHART'S 'STREETSCAPE' PROJECT
The Truth Newspaper
5/15/08

ELKHART -- City engineers and consultants are finishing designs for the next phase of Main Street improvements under the Streetscape project. The City Council Finance Committee will meet today to consider a $920,000 request to help fund the construction work this year. The money is included in the 2008 capital projects plan that city officials devised last year. The city's water utility, which is separate from the city's main operating budget, would provide an additional $350,000. The project would improve the roadway, sidewalks, curbs, lighting, landscaping and underground sewer and water utilities in the 300 block of South Main Street, between High and Franklin streets. It picks up where improvements to the 100 and 200 blocks left off in 2006. http://www.etruth.com/Know/News/Story.aspx?ID=449764

KEYSTONE CONSTRUCTION BEGINS IN CARMEL
The Indianapolis Star
Nancy Heck
5/15/08

Construction activities have begun on Keystone Avenue with Milestone Contractors adjusting lane configurations near the 106th & 126th Street Interchanges. Additional turn lanes are being added at 116th Street and Carmel Drive to help traffic accessing Keystone. Crews are also working to adjust traffic signals along Range Line Road and Gray Road in anticipation of the 106th and 126th Street road closures, which may happen as early as May 27th. Because the City of Carmel is committed to getting this project done quickly, crews will be working extended hours as much as possible in order to accomplish that goal. http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008805150542

PART OF ALLISONVILLE ROAD TO CLOSE
WORK WILL BE DONE FROM JUNE 2 TO AUG. 1 TO REPLACE STONY CREEK BRIDGE'S DECK
The Indianapolis Star
Chris Sikich
5/15/08

NOBLESVILLE -- A short stretch of Allisonville Road will close from about June 2 to Aug. 1. The closing will be north and south of the Stony Creek bridge and is being done to replace the bridge's deck. The 60-year-old bridge is just north of the railroad crossing, and about 12,174 vehicles travel that section of Allisonville daily. Highway Director Brad Davis said the work would cost about $472,644, and will be completed by Erber & Milligan Construction, Indianapolis. http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008805150356