Bridge #51 Closed in Starke County

Posted on Author WKVI
Steve Siddall

Starke County Highway Superintendent Steve Siddall came before the Commissioners yesterday and reported on two bridges in the county.

The first bridge, #51 was closed last week. Siddall said the caps, that were wooden and placed on the bridge in the 1950s, have crushed and failed. He said that this was a bridge that was scheduled to be replaced.

“Several years ago, I’m going to say 10 or 12 years ago, they set up a program to replace these bridges and put them by category by year,” said Siddall. “If we were still on that, this year that bridge was scheduled to be replaced. It will be bid out in the spring.”

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Starke County Bridge #156 to Open by End of October

Posted on Author WKVI
County bridge #156 over the Robbins Ditch

Starke County Highway Superintendent, Steve Siddall, brought county officials up to date on the Range Road and 500 North bridge project this week.

“They weren’t going to remove the bridge on Saturday but they ended up taking it out on Friday,” said Siddall. “When I went up there Saturday, they were already starting to pour the caps and the beams are sitting on a trailer ready to come right now. They’re just waiting for the IDEM permit to come in. If INDOT is in a hurry, INDOT will give it to them. It should be up there Thursday by the latest.”

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Work Almost Complete on Bridge in Brems

Posted on Author WKVI
County bridge #156 over the Robbins Ditch

The bridge at Range Road and 400 North is almost complete. Yesterday, crews were pouring cement at the site and the bridge should be demolished on Thursday. Highway Superintendent, Steve Siddall, explains what comes next.

“They have to set their forms up and get ready for the abutment to hold the pre-cast box beams to go on it,” said Siddall. “Then the box beams will be delivered, they will set them into place, then they’ll form up and pour the top over it and we should be almost done.”

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Starke County Commissioners Receive Update on Bridge Projects

Posted on Author WKVI
County bridge #156 over the Robbins Ditch

Starke County Highway Superintendent, Steve Siddall, and Engineer Ken Minot approached the Starke County Commissioners yesterday to give them an update on three bridge projects.

Siddall was asked if Bridge #156, which is located at Range Road and 400 North, is moving on schedule.

“With what the Commissioners want for fall harvest, we’re right on time,” replied Siddall. “Hopefully, the weather cooperates.”

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Commissioners Approve Hire of Project Overseer for Bridge Project

Posted on Author WKVI
Steve Siddall

Starke County Highway Superintendent Steve Siddall and Ken Minett from Butler, Fairman, and Seufert met with the Starke County Commissioners regarding the hire of a project inspector to oversee the repairs on Bridge 156. The County has had an inspector for all bridge projects in the past, and the previous Superintendent was qualified to inspect and oversee these projects as well.

Minett told the Commissioners that hiring an inspector is paramount to the safety of the bridge, because it’s possible for contractors to leave out vital rebar, use incorrect steel, or make a small mistake that could sacrifice the integrity of the structure. Without an inspector, said Minett, the consequences are unknown and could be staggering.

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Robbins Ditch Bridge Project Moves Forward

Posted on Author WKVI
County bridge #156 over the Robbins Ditch

Starke County Highway Superintendent, Steve Siddall told WKVI News that Bridge #156 over the Robbins Ditch at Range Road and 400 North is scheduled to go into the construction phase soon. Bids will be opened for construction work on August 4th.

Some immediacy was put on this bridge after it was closed because it is so heavily used by farmers. The fall season is a critical time for moving grain. The County Commissioners put a priority tag on #156 for this reason.

Engineering for the project is being done by Butler-Fairmont and Seufert, with Ken Minot, the representative.

Once construction begins, the bidder has 80 days to complete the work on the bridge.

Bridge 156 Project Still Hopeful to be Complete by Fall Harvest

Posted on Author WKVI
County bridge #156 over the Robbins Ditch

The Starke County Commissioners received a promising update regarding Bridge 156 over the Robbins Ditch on Range Road on Monday. Surveys are expected to be done soon, Debco has provided the loads on the trusses, and everything is expected to be back in operating order in time for our local farmers to use the road during their busy harvest season.

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Starke County Bridge Project Moving Along

Posted on Author WKVI
County bridge #156 over the Robbins Ditch

Starke County Highway Superintendent, Steve Siddall, approached the Starke County Commissioners last night with some good news: The DNR has given them a bit of leeway in the bridge repair situation. IDEM and CORE permitting will not be involved as long as construction stays above the water line, and only the DNR permit will be needed.

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Starke County Commissioners Move Ahead with Bridge Repairs

Posted on Author WKVI
County bridge #156 over the Robbins Ditch

The Starke County Commissioners made a decision to move forward with repairs to Bridge #156 over the Robbins Ditch at 400 North and Range Road. The heavily traveled bridge was recently closed by an emergency order.

The State had approved a plan to rebuild the bridge but that would have meant two years of the structure being down.

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Starke County Commissioners Discuss Bridge Repair

Posted on Author WKVI
County bridge #156 over the Robbins Ditch

The Starke County Commissioners held a lengthy discussion with all involved in the bridge #156 reconstruction or rehabilitation. The bridge, located at 400 North and Range Road, has been closed for approximately a month.

“It is an inconvenience with Range Road being closed, not only just for the farmers but for businesses as well as the Highway Department, schools, EMS, mail carriers, and any other emergency vehicle, ” said Starke County Highway Superintendent, Steve Siddall. “We really want to try and open that back up as soon as possible. The biggest thing is the permits from the DNR. The permits could hold us up for at least six months and hopefully the DNR wouldn’t do that, but you never know.”

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