Hancock County officials are looking to do extensive road work on Stinemyer Road in 2026.
The road, which runs east-west, ends at County Road 550 West. Stinemyer Road is set to be extended to County Road 500 West, with a roundabout constructed at that intersection. Originally a plan to alleviate traffic on U.S. 52, the roundabout is set to connect Stinemyer Road to School Street, which leads to New Palestine Elementary School and New Palestine High School.
Since the project is federally funded, the Indiana Department of Transportation committed to pay 80% of the funds for the construction, with the remaining 20% being paid for by the county.
However, due to the slashing of federal funding across the government since the beginning of the year, finances for the project are in jeopardy. Hancock County engineer Gary Pool told county officials at a Hancock County Budget, Efficiency and Revenue Committee meeting Aug. 6 that the INDOT share of the funding is now in the air.
“Obviously, we had a changeover in government recently and the states become much more firm on their funding, and also we’ve had a pretty significant increase in costs of asphalt and different building materials as of recent,” Pool said.
He added that the price of the upcoming project came in higher than expected, and INDOT leaders told him that they do not have enough money to make the 80% match. The proposed 2026 budget currently lists the Stinemyer Road project as costing $3 million. Overall, the project is set to cost $4.5 million. Pool said INDOT leaders feel they may have the money, but it has not been appropriated yet.
He also said the county cannot postpone the project another year. Originally, the project was set to take place in 2025, but talks with New Palestine Community Schools leaders delayed the project to 2026.
There are several different options with how INDOT funding will proceed for 2026, Pool said. Either INDOT will give 80% matches across all projects, including the Stinemyer Road project. Or, only several projects will get the matching funding from INDOT, and local officials would use money from the cumulative bridge fund to cover some projects. Or, local leaders will wind back programs for the Redevelopment Commission, the Pennsy Trail and various bridge projects, and slow capital growth and pay for the 2026 projects if no INDOT funding comes through.
“I’m going to do my best to get Plan A. Let’s get it matched up, and then that’ll be 80% less,” Pool said.
County council member Kent Fisk said at the meeting it is imperative that the Stinemyer Road projects be completed since they’re so close to the finish line.
“You can’t put it off; it’s got to be completed,” Fisk said.
Pool said later that several other projects are slated to receive INDOT funding in 2026, including County Road 300 North between county roads 600 West and 700 West, and replacing Bridge 67 on County Road 700 West over Buck Creek.
Pool also said the highway department is applying for grants to alleviate the financial responsibility for the county, and that he won’t know if the highway department will get these grants until the end of the year.
“I’m trying to reduce the cost of the county taxpayer,” Pool said.