With 250 bridges maintained by Wayne County, there’s never a shortage of projects needing work, whether rehabilitations or outright replacements.
Federal funding passed through the Indiana Department of Transportation expands the county’s ability to tackle bridge projects. Brandon Sanders, the county highway engineer, updated the eight federal bridge projects during the Jan. 29 commissioners meeting.
The South G Street rehabilitation project in Richmond has opened to traffic, but still has $800,000 in concrete patching left to complete. The seven other projects total more than $14 million, with INDOT covering about $9.5 million and Wayne County providing more than $4.8 million.
For the county, that’s $2.8 million more than expected. Anticipated costs have risen since the projects originated, but INDOT has not yet agreed to increase its contributions to three of the projects, leaving it short of the 80% it normally covers.
The good news is that bidding for current projects was lower than anticipated, so INDOT did release money for replacements of bridges on Sample and Heiney roads. INDOT’s covering 80% of the Sample Road bridge project that’s underway and 93% of the Heiney Road project that’s been bid. The same could free more money for the upcoming projects.
INDOT covered 55% of the South G Street bridge’s $3.373,035 bid amount, but is providing 80% ($640,000) for the additional concrete patching. The bridge also still needs installation of safety fencing.
The new Sample Road bridge will be widened to two travel lanes, rather than the previous one. The project carries a $1,718,774 price tag.
The Heiney Road bridge has been closed because of its deteriorated condition. The project fell behind others because fewer people use the bridge for the short stretch of Heiney Road. It also will be expanded to two travel lanes, and it carries a $1,819,074 million price tag.
A rehabilitation project for Richmond Avenue actually involves two bridges. The span across the Whitewater Gorge is considered one bridge, while the span above Sheridan Street is considered a second bridge.
The project will involve installing a rigid concrete overlay, repairing spill slope, replacing bearings and patching concrete. The project is scheduled to let in July, but that could fall to October in an effort to secure extra funding. The cost is expected to be about $2.1 million for the gorge section and about $250,000 for the Sheridan Street section. INDOT does not contribute to the section over Sheridan Street.
A project to replace the Waterfall Road bridge is scheduled to let early in 2026 with an estimated cost of about $2.5 million. INDOT has committed $1,340,640 for the project that will reduce the number of piers and re-align the roadway.
Replacing the Bridge Avenue bridge is expected to cost about $2.4 million, with INDOT committing to $1,232,000. That project will add a sidewalk and also realign the roadway. It’s scheduled to let in October.
The Fountain City Pike bridge’s replacement east of Fountain City also involves realigning the curve of the roadway. That project, which is scheduled to let in early 2026, is expected to cost about $2.3 million, with INDOT committing $1,144,000.
In Cambridge City, the Mulberry Street bridge north of U.S. 40 will be replaced at an estimated cost of $1.2 million. INDOT’s commitment is $960,000. The project, that’s scheduled for a July 2026 letting, includes relocating a sanitary manhole off the bridge. Water seeping through the manhole cover has damaged the current bridge.
Sanders will update commissioners about local bridge projects during a future meeting.
Community Crossings
Mike Sharp, the county’s highway superintendent, brought commissioners two letters committing $97,627.18 as match money for Community Crossings road projects. The state grant would be for the same amount.
Sharp has split the 13.24 miles of single chip seal projects into one on the county’s east side and another on the west side. That will allow use of two gravel suppliers.
Commissioners signed the two commitment contracts for the projects with total costs of $100,852.86 and $94,401.49.
A version of this article appeared in the February 5 2025 print edition of the Western Wayne News.