Thursday morning, INDOT hosted a bridge dedication ceremony on U.S. 31 over the Elkhart Western Railroad between Plymouth and Argos.
The bridge was dedicated to Owen Abbott, who was killed at the age of 13 in a school bus accident at the railroad crossing in December 2018. The school bus he was riding in on a field trip stopped at the crossing as required by law. While the bus was stopped, a northbound box truck failed to realize the bus was stopped and ran into the rear of the bus, and the overhead rack penetrated the bus, killing Abbott and injuring several other Winamac 8th graders.
The bridge will make U.S. 31 much safer as buses and some semis will no longer have to stop at the railroad crossing. The two-year construction project cost $29 million and raised U.S. 31 25 feet over the railroad tracks.
The construction project isn’t quite complete on U.S. 31. Lane restrictions are still in place, but the project is scheduled to be completed by the end of May or early June.
Rheese Benjamin finishes 8th at wrestling state finals
USDA launches Lender Lens Dashboard to promote data transparency
Cancer Action Day at the Indiana Statehouse: Advocates call for legislation to reduce the burden of cancer
U.S. Rep. Yakym’s bipartisan BARCODE Efficiency Act Advances
Applications available for Indiana Sheriffs' Association college scholarships
Parke County RDC closes on the purchase of the former Rockville National Bank Building
Deadline approaching for blind, disabled Hoosiers and seniors to receive property tax credits
One Night, One Cause: Indiana FFA needs your support for their ‘Blue and Gold Gala’
Gov. Braun secures National Drone Test Site Designation for Indiana
ISP with Human Trafficking Awareness Initiative this week
Rockville Town Board shuffles up leadership positions
Political candidates can begin filing this week
Historic sites bill passes out of committee
More than one-third of Christmas tree home fires occur in January
Temporary visitation restrictions enacted by Union Health due to uptick in respiratory virus cases
Reps. Heaton, Yocum: Indiana House accepting student applicants for 2026 page program
