U.S. 30 Freeway Project Failing to Generate Support from INDOT

Interest in upgrading U.S. 30 to freeway standards doesn’t appear to be as high as previously thought, and that’s drawing frustration from Hamlet officials. Ron Gifford with the Starke County Economic Development Foundation told the town council Wednesday that the Indiana Department of Transportation is looking at other projects now and doesn’t appear interested in U.S. 30.

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Uncertainty with U.S. 30 Plans Draws Concerns from Hamlet Council President

Uncertainty about the future of U.S. 30 is making it hard for Hamlet to attract businesses, according to Town Council President Dave Kesvormas. During last week’s meeting, he said that local officials have been told that INDOT wants to upgrade U.S. 30 to freeway standards, but now, they’re hearing proposals for a J-turn intersection at State Road 39.

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Pulaski Commissioners Defer Decision on Letter of Support for Panhandle Pathway Extension

The Pulaski County Commissioners aren’t ready to give a letter of support for efforts to obtain grant funding to extend the Panhandle Pathway. Plans call for the extension of the trail south to France Park and north to the Tippecanoe River State Park. A later phase would continue the Pathway north from there, to meet the North Judson Erie Trail near Bass Station.

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Pulaski County Commissioners Open Second Round of Bids for Community Crossings Projects

A second round of bidding has resulted in some slightly lower prices for planned paving work in Pulaski County. Plans call for hot mix asphalt work on County Road 550 South west of State Road 39 and County Road 600 South from State Road 119 to Base Road. The county is applying for a Community Crossings grant, to cover 75 percent of the cost.

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Pulaski County Council Creates Budget Line Item for Upcoming Bridge Replacement

The Pulaski County Council has begun making funding arrangements for an upcoming bridge replacement. The bridge on County Road 400 East over Mill Creek is set to be replaced in the next year or two, according to Highway Superintendent Terry Ruff. “We lowered the weight limit on it last year,” he told council members this month. “It needs to be replaced. Heaven forbid if something happens to that bridge, you know how much traffic’s through that area.”

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Pulaski County Has to Rebid Paving Projects to Qualify for Community Crossings Grant

The Pulaski County Highway Department will have to redo the bid process for this year’s Community Crossings projects. Last month, the county commissioners awarded a $1.18 million bid to Town & Country Paving for work on County Road 550 South west of State Road 39 and County Road 600 South from State Road 119 to Base Road.

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Town of Hamlet Seeking Bids for Updated Railroad Street Project

Plans for Hamlet’s Railroad Street project appear to be back on track. The town council Wednesday directed Engineer Lee Nagai to seek updated bids for the work, as part of a planned Community Crossings project. Council members decided to remove sidewalk improvements from the project scope, but keep in a possible storm drain extension as a potential option.

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Planning Underway for Bridge Replacement on Pulaski County Road 400 East

The 60-year-old bridge on Pulaski County Road 400 East over Mill Creek is set to be replaced. The county commissioners Tuesday approved contracts to allow Jeff Larrison with United Consulting to begin working on the design. “We’ve been looking at this since August of 2017,” Larrison told the commissioners. “This bridge is way up on your priority list.”

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Culver Moving Ahead with Stellar Communities Projects

Plans for the Lake Maxinkuckee Bike and Walking Trail and other Stellar Community projects are moving ahead in the Town of Culver. Town Manager Jonathan Leist told the town council Tuesday that the first quarterly update meetings on the three INDOT-funded projects were held last week. Those include the Lake Maxinkuckee Trail, West Jefferson Gateway, and State Road 10 sidewalks.

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