City of Washington working toward big road projects

The city and county are still working on a planned project to rebuild the 15th Street bridge over the CSX Railroad.

The project had been planned for this summer, but the pieces did not come together in time. That does not mean, however, that work on the project has stopped.

“We are still acquiring the right of way for the bridge project,” said Daviess County Highway Supervisor Phil Cornelius. “We have one more piece of property to get squared away.”

Officials believe that once they get everything lined up they should be able to bid the project this winter with construction to begin in the spring. For the city of Washington that means getting the money for its half of the project. Washington officials plan to put in a request for a Community Crossings grant this month from the state to cover the city’s part.

“We felt it was important for us to get in line for funding now and get it ready,” said Washington Mayor Joe Wellman. “We want this project to get done in one construction season without any hold ups.”

The city’s part of the project is expected to be slightly more than $1 million. Because Washington has a population over 10,000 it will be seeking a 50-50 grant.

“We still have money left over from the state’s special LOIT (Local Option Income Tax) distribution a year ago to cover our part of the matching funds,” Wellman said.

If Washington receives the Community Crossings grant, the money will be distributed in August. That would be too late to do much on the project this fall.

“If we have the grant though, we have a better planning tool,” said Wellman.

Because the bridge is over a railroad there were some early questions from the Indiana Department of Transportation over whether they would fund the project. Mayor Wellman says it appears that whatever those problems were have now been worked out.

“We have talked with INDOT about this three times,” said Wellman. “I am more than confidant that will not be a problem.”

The city has more than a dozen potential projects in the wings, but the 15th Street bridge is at the top of the pile. “This is our priority project,” said Wellman.

The project, which will make for a better connection to the commercial east side of Washington and the more residential north side, will also make for more direct and safer transportation by emergency vehicles to the Daviess Community Hospital. In addition, it will get what county officials have called their worst bridge replaced.

The county intends to use money from the cumulative bridge fund to pay for its part of the project. The Daviess County Economic Development Foundation has also put some money towards the new bridge.

Business 50

While the bridge is hopefully a go for next summer, another large project is still in the talking stage. Wellman says talks are ongoing about re-building Business 50 and National Highway through town.

“We do not intend to submit old U.S. 50 for a Community Crossings grant,” said Wellman. “It is going to be a standalone project.”

Old Business 50 and National Highway through Washington has been an issue ever since the state opened the U.S. 50 Bypass. The state has offered it to at least four different mayors and all have turned it down, saying the road needs to be rebuilt before the city would take on maintaining it.

Mayor Wellman made the roadway one of his issues in his run for re-election. This spring he presented the city’s case to legislative leaders and is in the midst of working with INDOT on a potential solution.

“They are doing some testing and we are awaiting the results on that,” said Wellman. “I guess you could say we are in the second round of talks.”

The project most likely will include curbs and sidewalks, drainage, utilities and even possible bike paths.

“We know we have a long way to go and it is unlikely the state will pay for 100 percent of the project,” said Wellman. “We want to make certain that whatever we do, we do it right.”