Railroad Crossing Repairs Cause Road Closure

Posted on Author Jacque Ryan

INDOT recently began some rail road crossing repairs that will cause a closure impacting commuters and residents of Starke County.

Norfolk Southern Railroad Company is renewing and repairing a railroad crossing near Knox, causing the closure of State Road 8 between County Road N. 100 E. and County Road N. 200 E.

This closure will last from Monday, September 18th until Friday, September 29th. Norfolk will only be closing this section of State road 8 for railroad crossing rehabilitation. Continue reading →

Culver Town Council Supports Petition Against Proposed J-Turns

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

The Culver Town Council members are in support of a petition against INDOT’s proposed J-turn intersection at U.S. 31 and State Road 10 and Dewey Street and another at U.S. 31 and State Road 110.

The J-turn intersection would not allow a vehicle to turn left at a crossroad. Instead, the driver has to travel quite a distance in order to turn left, or the opposite direction to go back past the crossroad to turn left again to the desired location. INDOT feels that the construction would create a safer way for traffic to maneuver.

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Railroad Pavement Markings, Signs to be Updated

Posted on Author Anita Goodan
 

Some railroad signs and pavement markings will be updated soon in Starke County.

Starke County Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler told the commissioners this week that INDOT recently conducted a railroad crossing audit for the county. Crews found 23 crossings that needed improvement with updated pavement markings or signs.

Ritzler said he is working on funding to update these crossings.

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INDOT to Award Community Crossing Grants This Fall

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

Local and county government agency officials are waiting patiently to learn if their road projects will be accepted for grant funds through the state’s Community Crossings grant program.

The competition for grant funds ramped up this year as the state dropped the local match requirement for all applications to 25 percent. Several more municipalities and city government agencies were able to submit requests this year as the local match made a $1 million grant more affordable for some.

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Road Construction Takes a Holiday

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

Road crews will take a break during the Independence Day holiday.

Officials with the Indiana Department of Transportation say road work will cease until the morning hours of Wednesday, July 5. Road restrictions will be removed in select areas to ease the flow of traffic during the holiday. Some closures and restrictions will remain on larger projects. Contractors will reposition barriers and barricades to accommodate the increase in traffic.

Traffic and road conditions plus construction information on state highways can be accessed online at http://indot.carsprogram.org or call 1-800-261-ROAD (7623).

Local police officers and state police troopers will be out in full force targeting impaired drivers. Sobriety checkpoints, roving patrols and saturation patrols are planned.

INDOT Announces Road Funding Meeting for Local Officials

Posted on Author WKVI

City, town and county officials are invited to a meeting later this month at the INDOT LaPorte District office to learn more about available sources of road funding.

House Enrolled Act 1002 invests hundreds of millions of dollars of new funding annually in state and local road and bridge projects across Indiana. Gov. Eric Holcomb signed the bill last month. Continue reading →

Be Aware of Construction Workers in Work Zones

Posted on Author Anita Goodan

April marks the beginning of the highway construction season. The Indiana Department of Transportation urges motorists to slow down in construction zones.

This will be a busy road construction season. INDOT will oversee more than 300 construction contracts totaling more than $1 billion in capital investment. Pavement resurfacing will encompass 3,047 miles. Work will focus on improving traffic mobility and safety. Dozens of interchanges and intersections will be improved across the state. INDOT and its contractors will also rehabilitate or construct 486 bridges and small structures.

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