The Monterey Bridge project is expected to begin once the weather breaks.
Jeff Larrison of United Consulting, the company involved in the engineering and planning for the project, said a pre-construction meeting with the Indiana Department of Transportation is set for Thursday, March 7 to discuss details of the project and set a start date. All of the paperwork has been submitted and contracts have been signed for the construction. A start date is the only issue left to be decided.
A new bridge will be constructed adjacent to the old bridge in Monterey. Bridge 291 has been deemed a historic structure so the new bridge will not be demolished. Larrison will report a construction date when it is decided next week.
Pulaski County Commissioners Larry Brady, Terry Young, and Tracey Shorter
The Pulaski County Commissioners this week signed a revised contract for the inspection of the Monterey Bridge. Jeff Larrison of United Consulting told the commissioners this week that the original construction cost estimate came in at around $1.55 million, but the bids came in lower than expected, prompting a new revision to the inspection contract with a lower price.
Pulaski County Commissioners Tracey Shorter, Kenneth Boswell, Michael Tiede
Efforts to restore bridges in Pulaski County continue as the commissioners this week discussed the possibility of yet another bridge to work on. Jeff Larrison of United Consulting told the commissioners that he had put together an engineer’s report for Bridge 268, which is in dire need of a new deck. This project, he says, will be a lot cheaper and a bit easier than the complete replacement of Bridge 291 in Monterey.
Larrison says the bridge would be restored rather than completely replaced, and no land acquisition is necessary.
Pulaski County Commissioners Tracey Shorter, Kenneth Boswell, Michael Tiede
Jeff Larrison of United Consulting presented the Pulaski County Commissioners with an update on the Bridge 291 project this week.
The last two expenses for the Combs property, which was acquired as part of the construction project, were presented to the commissioners. The Combs property was acquired and their moving expenses were paid in accordance with INDOT guidelines, which allow up to $25,000 to be paid to the owners of a property that are required to relocate.
Pulaski County Commissioners Tracey Shorter, Kenneth Boswell, Michael Tiede
The Pulaski County Commissioners received an update yesterday regarding the status of the Bridge 291 project. Jeff Larrison of United Consulting told the commissioners that the right-of-ways have been cleared through INDOT, and the necessary documents have been submitted, however, INDOT has pushed several projects back to October.
Larrison said that the county has met all the deadlines, but they have to play by INDOT’s rules – which means opening bids for construction of the new bridge will not take place until October, setting them back several months. Larrison explained that after the bid is let, there is a 30 – 45 day period to choose a winning bid, which means construction could be delayed to as late as November.
Because of this delay, Larrison says a minimal amount of construction will take place before winter, but the majority of the work will take place come spring.
Pulaski County Commissioners Tracey Shorter, Kenneth Boswell, Michael Tiede
The Pulaski County Commissioners this week received another update on the Bridge 291 project, in which Jeff Larrison of United Consulting informed them that the next step in the process is to approve the construction inspection agreement. He says the agreement will go to the Indiana Department of Transportation, which will then review the rates for inspection and approve them if acceptable.
As with the rest of the project, 80 percent of this expense would be covered by INDOT, while the county would cover the other 20 percent. The cost of $194,800 for the inspection makes up 12.5 percent of the total construction cost as allotted by INDOT.
Pulaski County Commissioners Tracey Shorter, Kenneth Boswell, Michael Tiede
Jeff Larrison of United Consulting gave the Pulaski County Commissioners an update on the Bridge 291 project.
According to Larrison, INDOT will issue credit for up to 50 percent of the county’s 20 percent match for the project, bringing back $345,000 to the county. Larrison also told the commissioners that they will have to pay some of that money to businesses that have to move because of the bridge construction, including $8400 for reestablishment of the business and up to $13,000 for moving expenses, as some businesses have heavy equipment that must be moved. The business owners will have to submit invoices to ensure the money is spent correctly.
Pulaski County Commissioners Tracey Shorter, Kenneth Boswell, Michael Tiede
Another slight hiccup in the Monterey Bridge project was brought before the Pulaski County Commissioners yesterday, as Jeff Larrison from United Consulting announced a small slip of land would cost the county $329 more than previously expected.
The commissioners previously agreed to offer the landowners $900 for a small, previously overlooked sliver of land near the riverbank, but the landowners have countered with a request for $1229. Larrison explained that the increased cost comes from the landowners’ desire to sell the entire parcel of land, rather than a significant chunk.
Pulaski County Commissioners Tracey Shorter, Kenneth Boswell, Michael Tiede
Jeff Larrison of United Consulting and Pulaski County Highway Superintendent Kenny Becker told the Pulaski County Commissioners this week that they expect a delay in the construction process of the Monterey Bridge Project because of a delay with the INDOT agreement. Larrison explained that INDOT has pushed bid letting for projects throughout the state back several months and as a result, the Monterey Bridge project is expected to be let for bid in September—a two-month setback from their planned letting in July.
Pulaski County Commissioners Tracey Shorter, Kenneth Boswell, Michael Tiede
A slight hiccup in the Monterey Bridge project has brought with it some extra cost—but not to Pulaski County. Jeff Larrison of United Consulting told the county commissioners this week that a small sliver of land along the riverbank slipped under their radar and must be acquired before the project to continue. However, because the parcel wasn’t appraised along with the other properties or included in the right-of-way engineering, an additional cost would be incurred.
The land acquisition process has been completed for the Monterey Bridge project, and hopes are high for bids on the project to be let in spring. The project involves the construction of a new bridge to route traffic away from the Monterey Bridge, which is too small and unsafe for regular traffic but cannot be removed because of its historical nature.
Pulaski County Commissioners Tracey Shorter, Kenneth Boswell, Michael TiedeThe land acquisition process is underway for the Monterey Bridge project. The project involves the construction of a new bridge to route traffic away from the Monterey Bridge, which is too small and unsafe for regular traffic but cannot be removed because of its historical nature.
Jeff Larrison of United Consulting told the commissioners this week that the purchase of six of the nine parcels of land to be acquired were ready to be signed by the commissioners. Another parcel of land in the size of 83 square feet was purchased for $400 and did not require a signature. There is a conflict with the purchase of the remaining two parcels, however, as counter-offers were returned by the landowners who requested more money than the county had offered.
One of the landowners was offered $43,000 for his property, but had an appraisal performed himself that valued the land at $63,000, but Larrison says that appraisal was very flawed in how it calculated that figure. A motion was passed to raise their offer to $48,000 for the property.
A counter-offer was also received from the landowners of the second parcel. The county originally offered $11,300 for the parcel, but the landowner countered with $15,900, which the commissioners ultimately agreed to.
If the properties are acquired in time for the bids to be let in spring, Larrison is hopeful that construction on the new bridge will be finished before winter.
