Bid Opening for Starke County Bridge Projects Delayed

Posted on September 8, 2017
Author Anita Goodan, WKVI

The bids that were to be opened Tuesday during the Starke County Commissioners meeting for Bridge #154 over the Robbins Ditch on 100 E. has been delayed until Monday, Oct. 2.

Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler explained that funding is dependent on the announcement of Community Crossing grant awards which has been delayed.

“All three will be Oct. 2 pending the Community Crossings announcement,” said Ritzler. “One of those we could bid anyway, but I’d still rather wait until we know the whole picture of Community Crossings. We know we’ll have enough money even without that. If that happens again, we’ll move them out again. I want to get that bid right after we get the grant because there’s going to be a lot of projects bid right after the Community Crossing grants are announced. We’re trying to time it to just after they’re announced.”

Ritzler has eight projects that he submitted to INDOT for consideration for Community Crossings grant funds. The three bridges that will be bid on Oct. 2 include Bridge #154, Bridge #36 on County Road 25 N. over Eagle Creek and Bridge #58 on County Road 800 South over Bogus Run. Seven out of the eight projects proposed for Community Crossings money are bridge projects. Ritzler said he will be working with USI Consultants soon to conduct bridge inspections. He said the fees will be less as there are fewer deficient bridges.

The Indiana Department of Transportation La Porte District received over 430 applications for this year’s grant rounds. The La Porte District covers 13 counties including Marshall, Starke, La Porte and Pulaski Counties. The funding is more competitive as the match money was lowered to a 75/25 match rather than a 50/50 match.