The Starke County Council members approved the appropriation of CEDIT funds for highway infrastructure improvements.
Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler said each year about 50 percent of CEDIT funds are allocated for that purpose which has allowed the department to have money to repair and replace bridges. The county went from having some of the worst bridges in the state to the best. Ritzler said this year that they’re replacing bridge No. 154 on County Road 100 E. north of County Road 400 N. and bridge No. 140 on County Road 200 E. south of County Road 500 N. When those bridges are complete, the highway department crews will be taking the preventative maintenance approach and replace bridges as they become deficient rather than wait too long.
Ritzler said they instituted a 125-mile hot mix truck route plan and want to improve the roads as it will improve infrastructure and economic development for the county.
Six years ago 13 bridges weren’t safe for buses and now all bridges are safe for buses. Ritzler said he wants roads to be in the same condition.
The CEDIT money will also be used to pay the county’s 25 percent match for the Community Crossings projects.
The Starke County Council members approved the appropriation of $710,843.52 as presented.
During the Starke County Commissioners meeting, bids were presented for the Community Crossings projects. Four bids were received for the intersection improvement at County Road 600 S. and County Road 210. The second project is a hot mix overlay on 25 N. from 600 E. to State Road 23.
After reviewing the bid specs and other necessary paperwork, Ritzler asked the commissioners to accept his recommendation of accepting the lowest bid from Reith Riley out of La Porte for almost $684,500. He said it came in nearly $36,000 less than then engineer’s estimate of about $720,300. The commissioners approved the lowest bid as submitted.
