Starke County Highway Department Working on Community Crossings Application

Starke County Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler has several projects on tap to include in the first round of INDOT’s Community Crossings grant application.

There are two grant rounds in 2019. Ritzler noted that next year will be the final year that INDOT will accept proposals to fund completed projects. The county will provide a 25 percent match for whatever money is awarded up to $1 million.

As presented to the Starke County Commissioners last week, the highway department plans to request funds to pay for the work done on Bridge No. 154 and Bridge No. 36. Bridge No. 36 is already complete while a bid was awarded for Bridge No. 154 with construction to begin in September. Plans also call for hot mix asphalt projects on County Road 400 S. between County Road 650 W. and U.S. 421, County Road 50 South from State Road 39 to the Knox City Limits, County Road 250 N. from U.S. 35 to Range Road, Range Road from State Road 10 to Toto Road, County Road 25 N. from U.S. 35 to State Road 23, and County Road 1100 E. from U.S. 30 to Circle Ave.

Ritzler said plans are in the works to submit the official grant application this week. The application window closes Friday, Sept. 28.