This and that: A midweek edition
Work starts on long-delayed Indiana 225 bridge project. West Lafayette schools plan community survey ahead of possible property tax referendum renewal. And more
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A few notes midweek …
WORK STARTS AFTER FOUR YEARS ON INDIANA 225 BRIDGE NEAR BATTLE GROUND
Crews with Beaty Construction this week were tearing out an approach and a first section of the one-lane bridge on Indiana 225, as work got rolling on a long-delayed project between Battle Ground and Old Indiana 25.
The historic bridge has been closed since summer 2022, due to structural problems. Twice, Indiana Department of Transportation failed to get acceptable bids for a project to repair decking, curbs, approach slabs, railing and trusses on the four-span, 664-foot bridge built in 1912. That left the bridge blocked at either end by barricades and piles of rocks and marked for pedestrian use only on decking that had turned into a canvas for graffiti.
INDOT’s rebid of the project in January led to a $9.1 million contract, under an engineer’s estimate of $9.99 million, according to INDOT records and the county’s Technical Transportation Committee.
Blake Dollier, an INDOT spokesman, said this week that the Indiana 225 bridge is expected to reopen by the end of 2027, with additional work at the site continuing into 2028.
“This is a welcome relief to finally see some construction,” Mark Thompson, who lives on the Old Indiana 25 side of the bridge, said.
Dollier said there was not official detour for the project. But ones offered when the bridge initially closed added four miles to a trip, using Old Indiana 25, Interstate 65 and Indiana 43.
During a tour of the construction this week, state Sen. Ron Alting called the one-lane bridge an important one to get to and from Battle Ground, get access to Prophetstown State Park and for farmers on either side.
“It’s good that we’re at a point where we can get the work needed to get this historic bridge back open,” Alting said.
WL SCHOOL BOARD OK’S COMMUNITY SURVEY AHEAD OF REFERENDUM DECISION
The West Lafayette school board this week authorized a phone survey of 400 residents to gauge community opinion about plans to re-up the district’s property tax referendum.
