Councilman Ecker updates board on Lake Ave./S.R.17 railroad crossing project

Monday, September 29, 2025 at 3:00 AM

By Kathy Bottorff

A major improvement to the railroad crossing on Lake Avenue/State Road 17 in Plymouth is behind schedule.

City Councilman Don Ecker updated members of the Board of Public Works and Safety on the project that was to be completed by the end of the second quarter of 2025.

Patriot Rail has been in regular communication with Ecker. Last week, Allen Woodyard, Project Engineer for Patriot Rail, told Ecker he received the quote for flagging/detour plans, but INDOT is requiring utility locates to be handled via their portal. To request such locates, Patriot is required to register with INDOT, and as of Monday, their application to register has not been approved.

Woodyard told Ecker, “We are ready to complete this as soon as the utility locate item is addressed.”

Ecker has some concern that the asphalt plants will be closing in November, and he would like to see the project completed before the plants close.

City Councilman Randy Longanecker, a contractor who works with INDOT regularly, said that in 30 years, he had never heard of submitting locates through an INDOT portal.

Councilman Ecker said he would keep talking with Patriot Rail to ensure the project moves ahead, with a hope to finish it by the end of this year