Residents of Wayne and surrounding counties will see more construction starting soon after their communities received money for road paving and bridge projects.
Indiana Department of Transportation has announced a total of $133.4 million given through 224 Community Crossings matching grants to towns, counties and cities.
Wayne, Fayette, Henry, Randolph and Union counties successfully applied for a total of $4,676,369.21.
In Wayne County, Richmond received $699,727.44 to mill and pave 27 streets.
Shirley Williams, Economy’s council president, was “so happy” to learn the town received another Community Crossings grant.
This year’s $77,120.43 makes it possible to pave Fourth Street from Main Street to U.S. 35, replace a section of Second Street from Mill Street to Taylor Road, and crack sealing Market from U.S. 35 to the north end of the street.
Economy successfully applied last year, making it possible to pave 3/4 of Main Street and Poplar from U.S. 35 to near the Cardinal Greenway trailhead.
She said the 2023 project areas are in the same poor condition as last year’s roads, so the council is grateful for the 75% match.
“We would never be able to do that street that soon if it had to all come out of our pocket,” Williams said. “… It sure helps a little town out.”
Richmond will use its funds to mill and pave a list of 27 streets.
In Fayette County, Connersville received $463,410.61. Projects include 27th to 30th streets between Park and Western avenues; Eby Drive; 10th Street from Oak to Burton; Ninth, 10th and 11th from Burton west; Iowa Avenue from 21st to 30th and Canyon Parkway from Indiana 44 to Ranch. They also are doing a road preservation project on Western Avenue from Ninth to 30th.
Henry County and New Castle each received $1 million, as did Union County.
Two small Henry County towns also earned grants, with $54,206.25 for Kennard and $143,915.98 for Sulphur Springs.
Randolph County was represented as well, with $237,988.50 going to Union City for West Oak Street from North Howard to North Plum including sidewalks and Americans with Disabilities Act ramps at corners.
Thirty-five communities in INDOT’s Greenfield region received funding.
“The continued success of the Community Crossings program becomes more evident each year,” said Gov. Eric Holcomb in a news release. “Improving transportation infrastructure at the most local level makes communities that much more attractive for business and Hoosier families alike to connect and grow.”
Communities submitted applications that were evaluated based on need and current conditions, as well as impacts to safety and economic development.
Funding for Community Crossings comes from the state’s local road and bridge matching grant fund.
Community Crossings initiative has provided more than $1.27 billion in state matching funds for local construction projects since 2016.
To qualify for funding, local governments must provide local matching funds of 50% for larger communities or 25 percent for smaller communities.
Indiana law requires annually that 50% of the available matching funds be awarded to communities in counties with a population of 50,000 or fewer.
The next call for projects will open in July.
Which streets will get paved in Richmond?
State funding will help Richmond pave 27 streets this year. They are:
- Hidden Valley Lane (north and south) from Hidden Valley Drive to cul-de-sac
- South West I Court from Hidden Valley Lane to cul-de-sac
- South D from Industrial Parkway to dead end
- South C Street from Garwood Road to dead end
- South C Court from South C Street to dead end
- Norwood Drive from Crestdale to Valley drives
- Oak Park Court from University Boulevard to cul-de-sac
- Canterbury Trail from Forest Hills Boulevard to cul-de-sac
- Canterbury Court from Canterbury Trail to cul-de-sac
- Lantern Trail from Henley Road to Orchard Drive; Orchard Drive from Lantern Trail to cul-de-sac
- Waverly Drive from Henley Road to Orchard Drive; Devon Drive from Waverly to cul-de-sac
- Harris Street from North West M to NW N
- Hunt Street from North West L to NW N
- Ratliff Street from NW L to NW N
- South Ninth from U.S. 27 to South Q
- South Q from South Ninth to South 13th
- Crestdale Drive from U.S. 27 to dead end
- Clearview Drive from NW 13th to cul-de-sac
- Toschlog Road from U.S. 40 to city limits
- South B from South 16th to 23rd
- South 17th from South B to dead end
- South 20th from East Main to Reeveston Road
- South 16th from South E to L
A version of this article appeared in the April 19 2023 print edition of the Western Wayne News.