Highway Superintendent updates Commissioners on bridge projects

Tuesday, January 7, 2025 at 3:00 AM

By Kathy Bottorff

During their meeting on Monday, the County Commissioners signed the final inspection for the closeout of the replacement bridge #11 on 11th Road. Highway Superintendent Jason Peters said, “This is the final closeout to get all the documents signed, so INDOT can close out the project.”

Continuing with the county’s various bridge projects, Peters said the bid letting for Bridge #1 on Ule Trail was pushed back to the end of January or early February due to the delay in acquiring the parcels necessary for the project in a timely fashion. The cofferdam design for the Randolph Street Bridge #232 in Plymouth is nearing completion. Peters said the project should begin this month with demolition.

The required INDOT/Federal Highway Administration Consulting Parties meeting for Bridge #231 on Center Street in Bremen was held on December 12^th. Peters said citizen attendees generally requested consideration for rehabilitation of the bridge in lieu of a replacement. Accepted standards say replacement would be considered prudent if the rehabilitation cost is more than 40% of the replacement cost. Peters said the estimated construction for rehabilitation exceeds the 40% threshold, but INDOT and Federal Highway will make the final decision.

The letting date for Bridge #88 on 12^th Road east of Olive Trail is scheduled for January 14^th. Initial letters for utility coordination on the bridge project have been sent.

The final bridge update is for Bridge #108 on East 7^th Road. Peters said survey notifications have been sent with the work scheduled for this month.