News Tagged ‘INDOT’

The Indiana Department of Transportation plans to close a small section of State Road 10 in Argos tomorrow so crews can work on a culvert, weather permitting. The highway will be closed for 200 feet just west of Muckshaw Road. INDOT’s marked detour will take westbound traffic south on U.S. 31, west on State Road 110, north on State Road 117 and back to State Road 10. Eastbound traffic will take State Road 117 south to State Road 110 and then north on U.S. 31 back to State Road 10. Motorists can also take local roads to get around the closure; however, INDOT can only direct motorists to use highways.

The town of North Judson received an update on the repairs being done to the railroad crossing on U.S. 30 near Hanna. Clerk-Treasurer Donna Henry said the town board learned that INDOT awarded the bid to E&L Paving, and Henry explained that INDOT took the bids and told the council who submitted the lowest bid for the council to approve.

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The Indiana Department of Transportation is holding an open house today from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the LaPorte District Office at 315 E. Boyd Blvd.

The purpose of this open house is to inform you about transportation plans for your area. INDOT officials will provide an overview of the planning and public involvement during the open house.

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State lawmakers backed off their push to tie county road money to the implementation of a wheel tax. The budget passed Friday by state lawmakers commits one percent of annual sales tax collections to the Motor Highway Vehicle Fund, for an additional $215 million annually to INDOT, counties, cities and towns. Starke County is on track to get more than $500,000 in extra road funds from the state over the next two years. The county does not collect a an excise tax on vehicle registration, also known as a wheel tax. State lawmakers briefly considered requiring counties to implement such a tax in order to draw down their share of road funds. St. Joseph is the only neighboring county that collects such a tax.

Pulaski County will get an additional $582,393 from the state over the next two years. Marshall County’s share is $1.1 million, LaPorte County will get an increase of slightly over $1 million, and Jasper County will draw down an extra $718,122 per year.

The Association of Indiana Counties applauds the move as a great step forward in improving our state and local road networks.

Governor Michael Pence has proclaimed April 15-19 as Work Zone Awareness Week in Indiana, marking the ceremonial start to highway construction season with the intent to bring awareness to motorist and worker safety in work zones.

This year, INDOT will invest more than $1 billion in new highway construction projects to enhance safety, mobility, and economic growth in the state to maximum both the safety and mobility of motorists and workers, all while maintaining as much access as possible to businesses, residences and emergency services.

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The weather is warming up and spring is here, and everyone knows what that means: it’s time for spring cleaning, and INDOT knows that just as well as anybody as they jump in on the action with their Annual Trash Bash April 6-28. The snow plows have barely been off the road for a week, and now workers are focusing their efforts on patching potholes and cleaning litter from along highways throughout the state.

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The town of North Judson received help from state representatives Douglas Gutwein and Tom Dermody, as well as Senator Ed Charbonneau and INDOT Representative Robert Alderman with the goal of obtaining funds to proceed with the repairs to the railroad crossing on U.S. 30 near Hanna. Clerk-Treasurer Donna Henry said the town has been working on getting the project under way since last summer.

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It’s a whole different kind of March Madness across the Kankakee Valley this morning. Roads are slick and snow-covered after a late season overnight snowstorm. This is making for hazardous travel. If you do have to be out, allow yourself plenty of time to reach your destination, and remember, ice and snow, take it slow. Maintain a safe distance from other vehicles, brake early and accelerate slowly. If you see a snow plow, stay back and give it plenty of room to operate. Don’t tailgate or try to pass a plow truck, as the roadway will be clearer behind the plow than in front of it.

You can check road conditions anywhere in the state by visiting www.trafficwise.in.gov or by dialing toll-free 1-800-261-ROAD (7623) for updated Indiana travel information, including road conditions, road closures, construction information and other traffic alerts.

Snow should taper off into flurries by midday, but additional snowfall is expected tonight and into tomorrow before temperatures warm up into the 40s by the middle of the week. Fortunately the snow will not be a factor for schools today, as most school systems within the WKVI listening area are on spring break this week. However, if we receive word of any other weather-related closings or delays we will pass it along on the closings and delays page at www.wkvi.com as well as on the air and on our Facebook page.

 

INDOT is currently taking applications for competitive engineering scholarships.

If you are a full-time student accepted or enrolled in a qualifying civil engineering program, you are eligible to apply for scholarships valued at $3,125 per semester. Applications are available online at www.INDOTScholarship.in.gov. The application must be postmarked by April 30.

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The Indiana Department of Transportation is now accepting applications for governor’s public service interns through Sunday, March 10.

INDOT is looking for 74 interns across its six regional districts and its headquarters in downtown Indianapolis. The Governor’s Public Service Summer Intern Program offers work experience that enhances college-level skills and abilities and pays $11.30 an hour.

To be considered for the internship, you must be enrolled with an accredited post-secondary institution and have completed at least one year of undergraduate education. You may apply online at www.in.gov/spd/2335.htm.

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.

Beginning today, the intersection of state roads 39 and 14 in Pulaski County will be a four-way stop.

Previously, east and westbound traffic on State Road 14 had the right-of-way while north and southbound traffic on State Road 39 was required to stop at stop signs.

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There were a few snow plows seen on the area highways this week. Officials at the Indiana Department of Transportation have confirmed that they are prepping for the winter season.

Matt Deitchley from INDOT said that the workers at the Winamac sub-district have been doing inspections and training this week. They are making sure all of the snow plow drivers and equipment are ready for the new season. Road salt deliveries will be made in the next few days all across the district.

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The Indiana Department of Transportation has allocated a $2.1 million federal grant to build a portion of U.S. 31 in Marshall County near Plymouth to make sure the state doesn’t lose the money.

The Obama administration announced in August that states had until yesterday to specify how to spend $473 million in federal dollars that had been earmarked for highway projects between 2003 and 2006.

INDOT spokesman Matt Deitchley said that the state had always intended to use that money to rebuild a portion of U.S. 31 between South Bend and Plymouth, but not a specific part. He says the state will hear bids from contractors to begin construction on that stretch of the road next year.