Pulaski Highway Department Preparing for 2017 Community Crossings Funding

Pulaski County CourthousePulaski County has signed an agreement that will allow them to access money received through INDOT’s Community Crossings grant program.

Earlier this year, Pulaski County applied to receive money for several projects using funds received through a one time Local Option Income Tax distribution. It was used to provide the matching share of the Community Crossings grant.  The county was awarded significant dollars, but still needed to complete a few requirements to obtain the funds, Monday night.

Highway Department Superintendent Terry Ruff says they’re already looking ahead to 2017.

“There should be more money available next year and that should be another blessing,” says Ruff. “So we’re already thinking of projects for next year.”

Culvert projects are underway in Pulaski County as part of the autumn activities in the department.

Two projects are slated to begin in the fall through Community Crossings. One is a culvert north of Denham, the other involves work on a bridge on 1000 West. Some of the road projects on the Community Crossings list, including those in Star City and Pulaski, are slated to start in the spring.

Ruff says he doesn’t believe the state has announced when the next round of grant funding will take place.

 “We were in LaPorte a couple of weeks ago and it was up in the air when to turn the projects in because they didn’t really know how much money they were going to have,” says Ruff. “Some of the money will be turned back in that wasn’t used this go around. So I don’t know of any certain date.”

The state is anticipated to have funding prepared through the Community Crossings program once again following a discussion of long-term road funding anticipated during the long-session at the statehouse.

The Commissioners approved the necessary contract to obtain the funds during Monday night’s meeting.