The Indiana Department of Transportation has awarded almost $121 million in federal transportation funding to rural communities across the state. INDOT announced the funding recipients for a recent call for projects Wednesday.
Locally, Starke County will get $1.28 million. That will be used to replace and widen Bridge 137 on County Road 300 East over the Yellow River, just north of the Knox Industrial Park, according to Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler.
Meanwhile, North Judson will receive $196,000. That will go toward the cost of adding a sidewalk on the south side of State Road 10 from Wilson Street to the Dollar General store.
However, the projects are not scheduled to be bid out until the fiscal year beginning in July of 2025. Each community will have to contribute a local match of at least 20 percent and meet other federal requirements. INDOT says the funds awarded now will go toward construction, but it will also be financially participating in design, engineering, and right of way acquisition.
Overall, INDOT says it’s awarded funding to 52 cities, towns, and counties in rural areas, in this round. Communities in larger urban areas get their federal highway funding through metropolitan planning organizations. The federal funding is separate from the state’s Community Crossings matching grant program.
