A failed culvert in Starke County will soon be repaired following a decision by the Starke County Commissioners Monday night.
After doing research into the cost of replacement of the culvert on 700 East over the Jain Ditch by either a bridge or another culvert, the Starke County Highway Department recommended to the commissioners the installation of a double pipe culvert in the amount of $70,619.40. Of that cost, materials and labor would be in the amount of $26,228.40. The final cost included a 20 percent contingency figure. The commissioners voted to go forward with the department’s recommendation with that project to start soon.
This will be done in comparison to a bridge that would cost in the neighborhood of $475,000.
The commissioners previously opened bids twice for a new bridge at that location, but they came in well over the engineer’s estimate.
In a separate incident, the highway department responded to what was initially thought to be a sinkhole on Wednesday, Feb. 26, during a snowstorm, but it turned out to be a failed culvert. The incident occurred on 400 S. east of 1000 E. where crews had to close the road. Two workers fired up the diesel equipment to do the work that is typically done in the spring/summer, and staff members completed the task while keeping up with snow plow duties.
