Pulaski County is putting the final touches on plans to fully replace a bridge listed on their Community Crossings grant application.
The county was awarded the funds to match the construction work. Bridge 154, slated for replacement, is located on 700 North just east of 575 West in Pulaski County. It was initially planned for updates before the Community Crossings grant was announced earlier this year.
Jeff Larrison with United Consulting advised the county on the process. He says an agreement between the county and the firm should cover everything needed to complete construction.
“We’ve put together an agreement that covers the design elements, survey, permitting, land acquisition, construction, and inspection,” says Larrison. “And that’s what this agreement represents right here. Unfortunately with Community Crossing grants, INDOT doesn’t like to pay for that part of the project.”
Pulaski County was awarded $250-thousand by the state to complete the $500-thousand bridge replacement.
The plan right now is to wait and bid the project until a time when pricing is most competitive among area construction firms. A 3-percent inflation and 10-percent contingency is programmed into the bid to prevent unexpected cost surprises.
Larrison says work would then start sometime late next summer.
“Once we get our end of the project put together and the design and the plans are all approved, the construction can begin, and that’s when you can start collecting the $250-thousand for the bridge itself,” says Larrison.
Pulaski County was awarded funds through the Community Crossings grant fund earlier this year with Winamac and Francesville also awarded funds for infrastructure projects through the state.
The Pulaski County Commissioners approved the agreement request, unanimously.
