Closed Starke County Road Could Reopen This Summer

Posted on April 4, 2019
Author Anita Goodan, WKVI

Starke County Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler anticipates the reopening a road that’s been closed for about a decade.

“1100 E. from 150 N. to 300 N. has been closed for years and flooded,” explained Ritler.  “We’ve been using a lot of the old concrete we had that the farmers don’t like on the regular gravel roads to build up that road so we can reopen it.  We hope to reopen that by mid-to-late summer.  The road has been closed for about 10 years now.”

He also told the Starke County Commissioners this week that Norfolk Southern will be doing railroad crossing work beginning Monday.

“We listed the first two on 600 E. and 700 E. The other dates are to be determined, depending on how quickly the repairs go.  We’re going to update you, the first responders, and the media of any changes from Norfolk Southern.  They’re very good about notifying us about this.”

The two crossings that will be repaired beginning Monday include 1152 S. 600 E. in Knox and 1440 S. 700 E. in Knox.  Other crossings that are expected to be repaired this year include two on 225 S. and one on 250 S., 1000 E., 1150 E., and 800 E.

Ritzler added that railroad crews will set up the detours this time instead of the highway department.  The detours will be set up when the crossings are ready to be repaired and after Ritzler has a chance to review them and approve them.