The Starke County Highway Department has finalized applications for Community Crossings three-to-one matching funds for seven projects. Superintendent Rik Ritzler told the commissioners Monday three bridge replacements and one repair on the list are already complete.
If approved, the county will get the state match back as a reimbursement, and the money would go into the local bridge replacement fund for other projects.
The Community Crossings list also includes the county’s first hot mix asphalt road under the 10-year truck route paving plan. For a local cost of $56,750 the county would be able to complete hot mix paving for the Knox Industrial Park by going north from MPI to State Road 8.
The commissioners rejected a similar proposal to pave Arlington Road in North Judson from 350 West to the dead end to better accommodate heavy truck traffic through the North Judson Industrial Park. Instead Ritzler says the county will seek reimbursement for culverts that have already been installed at several locations this year.
The final project on the initial Community Crossings grant list is the bridge replacement on 800 South over Bogus Run just east of 200 West.
Each application is several pages long and requires a local funding commitment letter, a map for each project, an estimate of funding costs, asset management plan and supporting documentation.
Ritzler also plans to seeking funds for additional local projects should there be additional state money available.
