The number of structurally deficient bridges in Starke County could drop sooner than anticipated thanks to the road funding bill passed by the Indiana General Assembly. It includes money for Community Crossings projects and a three-to-one state match for counties with populations under 50,000.
Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler told the Starke County Commissioners last night the bridge over the Osborn Ditch south of State Road 10 on 1150 East is done. Work is under way on the new bridge on 900 East just south of State Road 10. The bridge on 625 South west of 875 East will also be replaced this year.
Engineering firm Jones, Petrie and Rafinski is designing plans for new bridges on 25 North just east of 600 East over Eagle Creek; 800 South east of 200 West over Bogus Run and 100 East north of 400 North over the Robbins Ditch. All three are slated for replacement next year.
Ritzler says the county may be able to replace them by the end of this year with Community Crossings money. He says the call for projects will take place in July, and funds may be awarded in August for shovel-ready projects.
That would leave just one structurally deficient bridge in Starke County. Ritzler says the county is coordinating with INDOT on the replacement of the bridge on 1200 East over the Yellow River half a mile north of 250 South. It’s slated for replacement in 2019.
