Starke Co. Bridge 51 Replacement May Be Ahead of Schedule

Posted on Author WKVI
Steve Siddall

The replacement of Bridge 51 is coming right along, and it may actually be done ahead of time. The commissioners awarded the bridge replacement project to LaPorte Construction in August at an estimated cost of $224,238.25, and the company now predicts that they will be done with the replacement before the original estimated completion date of Nov. 1.

According to Starke County Highway Superintendent Steve Siddall, the bridge needed replaced because the wooden caps that had been installed on the bridge in the 1950s have crushed and failed, and he says this bridge was scheduled to be replaced in 2011.

Siddall told the commissioners that construction on the bridge had started shortly after the bid was awarded, and after the bridge structure was removed, it was hauled out. Work started soon after on placing a new bridge structure, and that is expected to be completed along with the other details toward the end of October.

Starke County Bridge 51 Replacement Underway

Posted on Author WKVI
Steve Siddall

Starke County Highway Superintendent Steve Siddall presented the county commissioners this week with an update on the progress of repairs on Bridge 51, located on County Road 700 South in North Bend Township. The commissioners had accepted a bid in July from LaPorte Construction to perform the replacement of the bridge at a cost of $224,328.25 – the lowest bid submitted.

According to Siddall, the bridge needed replaced because the wooden caps that had been installed on the bridge in the 1950s have crushed and failed, and he says this bridge was scheduled to be replaced in 2011.

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Starke County Commissioners Accept Bid For Bridge 51 Replacement

Posted on Author WKVI
Starke County Commissioners Kathy Norem, Dan Bridegroom and Jennifer Davis

The Starke County Commissioners this week accepted a bid from LaPorte Construction to perform the replacement of Bridge 51.

The highest bid received was from Yates Construction, Inc., for $325,445.33, while the lowest bid presented was from LaPorte Construction Company, Inc. for $224,328.25.

Five other bids were presented from companies throughout Indiana and Michigan, which the commissioners took under advisement to give Highway Superintendent Steve Siddall time to review the bids and decide which bid he would recommend.

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Bridge #51 Closed in Starke County

Posted on Author WKVI
Steve Siddall

Starke County Highway Superintendent Steve Siddall came before the Commissioners yesterday and reported on two bridges in the county.

The first bridge, #51 was closed last week. Siddall said the caps, that were wooden and placed on the bridge in the 1950s, have crushed and failed. He said that this was a bridge that was scheduled to be replaced.

“Several years ago, I’m going to say 10 or 12 years ago, they set up a program to replace these bridges and put them by category by year,” said Siddall. “If we were still on that, this year that bridge was scheduled to be replaced. It will be bid out in the spring.”

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