Infrastructure News Summary
For May 28, 2008

U.S. 6 WORK ON TRACK FOR 2009 FINISH
Post-Tribune
Teresa Auch
5/27/08

PORTAGE -- Construction on U.S. 6 has been going on for about a year now, and the end isn't in sight. Joshua Bingham, spokesman for the Indiana Department of Transportation, said work on the eastern portion of the construction project -- going from about Indiana 149 to Airport Road -- was wrapping up and should be done in the coming week if it wasn't already. As for the second half of the project, which extends west of Airport Road to Indiana 51 in Hobart, construction crews are working on installing pipes and doing pavement removal he said. The project isn't scheduled to be completed until May 2009. However, there is a chance that, like the first half of the project, work on the second part could be far enough along by winter that it would be fully opened to cars, while finishing work would wait for the spring. http://www.post-trib.com/news/971658,ptgus6.article

CONSTRUCTION ON A POPULAR THOROUGHFARE BEGINS WHILE ANOTHER ENDS
WTHI-TV
5/27/08

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - Work has begun on a popular thoroughfare in Terre Haute. Road crews were out bright and early Tueseday morning to a jump start on the interchange modification project at U.S. 41 and Interstate 70 on Terre haute's southside. The project will add dual left turn lanes on U.S 41 for eastbound and westbound traffic onto the interstate. Ramps will also be widened and sidewalks added as well as an update in landscaping. The major moves project is expected to take about a year to complete. http://www.wthitv.com/Global/story.asp?S=8384971
Also, http://mywabashvalley.com/content/fulltext/?cid=10074

I-465 RAMPS CLOSING ON CITY'S WEST SIDE
WISH-TV
5/27/08

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - INDOT's biggest road project in the metro area may put the brakes on your commute. Construction along southbound I-465 is entering its busiest phase. Drivers navigating the area are already feeling the pain, and it's about to get worse. INDOT calls the construction project "Accelerate 465." But don't plan to do the same. The $550 million project will expand an 11 mile stretch of 465 from I-70 to the south all the way up to 56th Street.
http://www.wishtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=8382094&nav=0Rce

ALLEN COUNTY PLANS WHEEL TAX BOOST FOR BRIDGE WORK
The Herald Bulletin
5/28/08

FORT WAYNE - Allen County officials are pushing for an increase in local taxes on cars and other vehicles to help pay for repairs and maintenance of about 330 bridges. The County Council is expected to vote as soon as June on the plan to increase the wheel tax and surtax. The increase must be approved by July 1 for Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles branches to begin collecting the higher fees in January. Last month, county officials suggested increasing the wheel tax and surtax to generate up to $36 million over nine years - enough to pay for an estimated $31.5 million in needed repairs for bridges less than 200 feet long scattered throughout the county. Officials said the increase is needed because the County Council eliminated a bridge maintenance fund in 2003 to free up $728,000 a year it said was needed for other things. http://www.theheraldbulletin.com/statenews/local_story_149003209.html

DRIVERS NAVIGATE AROUND KEYSTONE CLOSURES
WTHR
Chris Proffitt
5/27/08

Hamilton County - Commuters traveling a major road through Carmel will find some roads are closed due to major reconfiguration of Keystone Avenue. While access to Keystone was scheduled to close at 99th, 106th and 126th Streets following the holiday, some drivers got a break Tuesday morning, finding the intersections open. But by rush hour Tuesday evening, those intersections closed for the first phase of a three-year construction project, so that workers can finish installing temporary pavement for work on northbound lanes. Over 30,000 cars use Keystone Avenue through Carmel daily, including drivers who will now have to use alternate routes at three intersections closed to Keystone. http://www.wthr.com/Global/story.asp?S=8386071&nav=9Tai

EVANSVILLE ROAD PROJECTS SLOWING TRAFFIC
WFIE
Marianna Lyles
5/27/08

The State Road 66 project in Evansville will get underway soon, but Tuesday in Evansville the barricades came down on Stringtown Road just north of Diamond Avenue. Traffic is moving once again, but the Indiana Department of Transportation has other plans as the project continues. Crews are closing off Heidelbach Avenue on the north side of Diamond. INDOT said they expect paving to last about two weeks, but the entire Diamond Avenue project will last through June of next year. http://www.14wfie.com/Global/story.asp?S=8385799&nav=3w6q

TRAFFIC TROUBLES TO BE FIXED AT IRONWOOD & MCKINLEY
WNDU
Erin Logan
5/27/08

Back in November, the Indiana Department of Transportation presented a check for two million dollars to the City of South Bend to fix the intersection of McKinley and Ironwood. The Common Council voted to approve the actual plan to fix the problem. Since 1983, the City and the Department of Public Works have been trying to come up with a master plan to please the people who live near that intersection and those who have no choice but to travel through it to get to work. Public Works Director, Gary Gilot and the South Bend Common Council were pleased to come to an agreement on a two million dollar project to make this area picture perfect. http://www.wndu.com/localnews/headlines/19306099.html

CAUTION, DRIVERS: ROAD WORK AHEAD
The Indianapolis Star
5/28/08

Construction season in Central Indiana is hitting overdrive. There's no single project on the scale of last year's Super 70 overhaul, which complicated commuting for several months on the city's Eastside and cost $175 million. Here are three key projects:
Market Street: A $20 million project to open Market Street between East Street and the interstates. That means the elevated Market Street ramp is coming down and a new, improved version will replace it. Expect street closings through the winter.
Allisonville overpass: The exact price of work on Allisonville Road over I-465 is uncertain because, after no one bid on the endeavor, officials are making a second try to find bidders. A damaged beam needs to be repaired and the deck over it replaced. Plans are to complete the work by August.
David Wolf Bridge: Work to bolster a steel bridge where 82nd Street crosses White River will cost about $3 million. The bridge was built in 1942 for $176,000 and has since been named for astronaut David Wolf, a graduate of nearby North Central High School who has logged more than 150 hours in space on three missions. The project is scheduled to be done by mid-September. http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080528/LOCAL18/805280407/1001/NEWS