Infrastructure News Summary
For May 29, 2008

STATE KICKS OFF S.R. 66 CONSTRUCTION
Tri-State Media
Timothy Young
5/28/08

State and local officials, along with representatives with the Indiana Department of Transportation, took place in a groundbreaking ceremony on Tuesday, May 27 to officially kickoff the improvements to S.R. 66, between S.R. 261 and Old State Road 662 (French Island Trail). The project is part of Gov. Mitch Daniels' Major Moves initiative. This part of the project - which is a projected $19.2 million investment - will add travel lanes, making the road more accessible for motorists. The groundbreaking signified the start of phase two of the $39.5 million project. http://www.tristate-media.com/articles/2008/05/28/warricknews/news/02sr66.txt

CONTRACT AWARDED FOR PHASE I OF SOUTH CALUMET PROJECT
Chesterton Tribune
Kevin Nevers
5/29/08

Walsh & Kelly Inc. of Griffith-which just completed the re-surfacing of Indian Boundary Road between Ind. 49 and North Calumet Road-has been awarded the contract for Phase I of the South Calumet Business District project. Phase I consists chiefly of the construction of a connector road between 100E and South Calumet Road, to be aligned with the entrance to Round the Clock; the construction of the intersection of 100E and Beverly Drive Extended; and the installation of a stormsewer link to an existing detention basin on Beverly Drive. Phase II-scheduled for completion in 2009-consists of improvements to 1100N, 100E, and South Calumet Road, including the installation of a traffic signal at the intersection of 1100N and 100E; roadway lighting; street- and landscaping; and the installation of a detention basin west of South Calumet Road. http://www.chestertontribune.com/Town%20of%20Chesterton/5281%20contract_awarded_for_phase_i_of.htm

IND. 67 INTERSECTION WORK BEGINS THIS WEEK
Reporter Times
5/28/08

Ongoing Indiana 67 intersection improvement work will move to the outside lanes, closing off cross street access for about two weeks at a time starting this week. The first intersections scheduled for construction are Allison Road near Mooresville and the west side of the Camby Road and Thompson Road in Marion County. Local detours have been established for each of the closures:
- Allison Road: Detour follows County Line Road and Ferguson Road (C.R. 450 East).
- West end of Camby Road: Detour follows Stanley Road, Banta Road, Mills Road, Trotter Road and Ameriplex Parkway.
- Thompson Road west of Ind. 67: Detour follows Depot Street, Valley Mills Avenue and Kollman Road. http://www.reporter-times.com/stories/2008/05/28/news.qp-5062159.sto

COUNTY CONTINUES WORK ON ROADS
Journal & Courier
5/29/08

The Tippecanoe County Highway Department will close the following roads for repairs in the near future:
? County Road 600 South between county roads 500 West and 600 West will be closed at 7 a.m. today. The road will reopen late afternoon Friday. The road is being closed for a culvert repair.
? Indiana 26 from Faith Baptist Church to Frontage Road possibly as soon as today.
Tippecanoe County Bridge No. 118 located on County Road 750 North near County Road West 250 will be closed for road construction and guardrail installation beginning at 7 a.m. Monday.
? Tippecanoe County Bridge No. 118 located on County Road 750 North near County Road West 250 will be closed for road construction and guardrail installation beginning at 7 a.m. Monday. http://www.jconline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080529/NEWS/805290315

PHASE TWO OF DAISY LANE IMPROVEMENT PROJECT TO BEGIN NEXT WEEK
The News and Tribune
Daniel Suddeath
5/29/08

A portion of Daisy Lane in New Albany will be closed as early as Tuesday for utility work as part of plans for street improvements. Utility relocations and installations from State Street to Green Valley Road on Daisy Lane will require the area to be closed to through traffic said John Rosenbarger, director of facilities for the Public Works. After utility work is completed, construction for phase two of the Daisy Lane project will start.
http://www.news-tribune.net/local/local_story_149104515.html

SAFER PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE WILL COST MORE PORTER LEARNS
Chesterton Tribune
Paulene Poparad
5/29/08

It's a misunderstanding that will cost the Porter Redevelopment Commission more to build an aluminum pedestrian bridge over the Little Calumet River bringing the total price to $167,900 rather than $156,650. Town engineer Warren Thiede told the commission Tuesday that it is an additional $11,250 for the vertical rail pickets members prefer to deter children from climbing on horizontal bridge rails. At its May 13 meeting the commission was led to believe there was no difference in cost. Gator Bridge initially was awarded the contract and still will be the low bidder receiving the job. Echo Bridge had bid $179,878 and Contech Bridge $229,960. The bridge installation and abutments will be bid separately with construction slated for later this year. The town received an approximately $300,000 grant for the 80-foot-long bridge that eventually will be part of the planned Orchard Pedestrian Way hike/bike trail from Woodlawn Avenue to U.S. 20 along Waverly Road. The bridge will be built west of Waverly south of Interstate 94. http://www.chestertontribune.com/Town%20of%20Porter/5284%20safer_pedestrian_bridge_will_cos.htm

STATE LEADERS PUSH $31B PLAN
The NWI Times
Kurt Erickson
5/29/08

SPRINGFIELD | The governor and three of the state's four legislative leaders said a proposed statewide construction program needs more work. In a press conference Wednesday, Gov. Rod Blagojevich and the trio of top lawmakers said they support the concept of a $31 billion public works plan. But, they acknowledged there are issues that still must be tackled if the plan is going to become reality in the closing days of the spring legislative session. That plan relies on leasing the state lottery and expanding gambling to finance $31 billion in road, bridge and school construction projects. http://www.thetimesonline.com/articles/2008/05/29/news/illiana/doc9af8b73974d265d586257457008089c4.txt

FIRST WORK STARTS ON IND. 32 PROJECT
TWO-YEAR CONSTRUCTION WILL ADD TWO LANES WEST OF U.S. 31 IN A 1.7-MILE STRETCH WHERE CITY FORESEES SUBSTANTIAL GROWTH
The Indianapolis Star
Francesca Jarosz
5/30/08

Drivers along Ind. 32 will see utility crews begin to move electric lines today as part of the preparation for a two-year project to improve the roadway and its intersections. Construction on the road is expected to get under way this fall after those areas are cleared, as part of the first phase of a plan to expand Ind. 32. The $10 million project includes widening the thoroughfare from two to four lanes along 1.7 miles from U.S. 31 west to Spring Mill Road. INDOT will separate the two lanes in each direction with center turn lanes or medians. The project is designed to add capacity to the road, which has seen traffic increase 50 percent during the last decade and is expected to increase another 66 percent in the next 20 years, according to INDOT statistics. http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080529/LOCAL0103/805290322/1001/NEWS