Town of North Judson Submits Community Crossings Matching Grant Application

Posted on August 6, 2019
Author Jacque Ryan, WKVI

The Community Crossings Matching Grant application for the Town of North Judson was recently submitted to INDOT for consideration.

During Monday night’s town council meeting, Fleis and Vandenbrink Senior Project Manager Mitch Hansel informed members that their application was turned in last week. He noted that a total of $130,000 was requested.

Hansel said town officials should know whether or not that grant has been received by the end of September or in early October. If the money is received, the project would be bid out this winter and construction would begin next spring. 

The proposed roadwork included South George Street between West Vine Street and West Weninger Street, Liberty and Hubeny Streets from SR 10 to Campbell Drive as well as Garden Street between Luken Street and Schricker Avenue.

A map with the proposed projects can be found below:

Starke County Highway Superintendent Updates Commissioners on Concerns

Posted on July 11, 2019
Author Anita Goodan, WKVI

Starke County Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler updated the county commissioners on a few concerns that have been addressed in previous meetings.

Ritzler is still waiting on word from INDOT representatives concerning a flooding issue at Iroquois and State Road 23 at Koontz Lake.

“We are awaiting a response from their maintenance supervisor.  We may place a catch basin in there in the meantime where we can do it and pump it out.  We would ideally like to connect to their sewer.  If they don’t respond quickly then we’ll set up that meeting where we will go up there and talk with them,” said Ritzler.

Another item that was discussed in a past meeting was the realignment of State Road 10 where it would bypass Bass Lake, which Ritzler says was in the state’s plans years ago.

“They did plans on that about 20 years ago.  It would alleviate some problems at the lake.  INDOT is looking for their old plans, but have not been able to find them yet.”

Additionally, Ritzler said a traffic study is being done on U.S. 35 near 500 S. to make that area a no passing zone.

Ritzler and Commissioner Bryan Cavendar look to meet with INDOT officials concerning an agreement for the county to assist the county with local needs.

“As you know, sometimes we do some of their work late at night.  With downed stop signs, sometimes they take four, five, or six hours.  We don’t like that.  We do it in about a half hour or 45 minutes. It’s the same thing with fallen trees.  We’d like to start billing them for those. There could be an agreement where we will do that if they don’t have the forces to do it, because we don’t think that’s safe.”

There is a drainage issue by the Bass Lake Property Owners Association building along State Road 10 that will be addressed with INDOT as well.

A meeting will be scheduled soon to discuss these things with INDOT representatives.

Starke County Highway Superintendent to Address Concerns with INDOT

Posted on June 8, 2019
Author Anita Goodan, WKVI

Starke County Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler highlighted some concerns to the county commissioners that he hopes to address with INDOT officials.

One issue is mowing around the Koontz Lake dam and fishing area.

“We are not responsible for that, the State is.  We’re going to make sure they get to that this week or next week or allow us to do it.  It is a danger.  We’ll do it if they allow us to do it, but we prefer them to do it,” said Ritzler.

Mowing could be done at the site by June 17, if not sooner.

Ritzler added that he wants to be sure to handle local issues as soon as possible as it takes a while for INDOT to respond.  He made examples of road hazards, stop signs, mowing, and other maintenance issues.  He’d like to coordinate with the State and make sure that there is reimbursement to the county and liability for his workers addressing immediate issues.

In another topic, Ritzler said there are many residents at Bass Lake who don’t like the fact that a state road goes around the lake.

“INDOT did create some plans about 15 years ago to realign State Road 10 away from the lake and make that 210 all the way around the lake.  I saw those plans and we’re trying to find those plans.  Some people want us to lobby to get INDOT to do that.”

One final item Ritzler will talk to INDOT about is making the stretch of road on U.S. 35 and 500 S. a no passing zone.

Commissioner Bryan Cavendar is expected to go with Ritzler to a meeting with INDOT soon to discuss these issues.

Uncertainty with U.S. 30 Plans Draws Concerns from Hamlet Council President

Posted on May 14, 2019
Author Michael Gallenberger, WKVI

Uncertainty about the future of U.S. 30 is making it hard for Hamlet to attract businesses, according to Town Council President Dave Kesvormas. During last week’s meeting, he said that local officials have been told that INDOT wants to upgrade U.S. 30 to freeway standards, but now, they’re hearing proposals for a J-turn intersection at State Road 39.

“When I talk to people that are interested in building, one fast food chain said, ‘I would love to be in Hamlet on 30, but I don’t know what’s going to happen over there,'” Kesvormas said.

He didn’t see how installing J-turns fit with the goal of turning U.S. 30 into a freeway. “INDOT was the one that came out and said that they’re going to push for this project to be from [State Road] 49 to [Interstate] 69 and it was going to be interstate standards, we’re going to be doing some reroutes, and there were all these public hearings,” Kesvormas added. “So all these folks that have gone to public hearings, is it a waste?”

Ron Gifford with the Starke County Economic Development Foundation said that the U.S. 30 freeway project appears to have fallen slightly on INDOT’s priority list, but progress continues to be made. “This county and Whitley County have done all of the homework,” he said. “There’s all kinds of information about how many cars cross the road at any intersection where we have that. We were way ahead of anybody else.”

Gifford had his doubts that J-turns will actually get built at U.S. 30 and State Road 39, noting the fierce local opposition as well as the viability of the freeway proposal.

Highway Officials Cover How Temperature Fluctuation Can Result in Pothole Formation

Posted on February 5, 2019
Author Jacque Ryan, WKVI

Though it’s likely you’re enjoying this week’s moderate temperatures far more than last week’s frigid weather, unfortunately, those fluctuations can cause ideal conditions for pothole formation.

Starke County Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler shared why these damp, dynamic conditions can result in the unwanted road hazards.

He stated, “Potholes generally form by water on the roadway and it gets into the cracks in the roadway and then during a freeze and thaw the water turns to ice and expands and then contracts.”

Ritzler continued, “That expansion and contraction, over time, causes the structure of the pavement to deteriorate and the asphalt starts breaking up eventually it pops out in what we call holes”

In a past interview with Marshall County Highway Superintendent Jason Peters, he asked drivers to remain alert and understanding when temperatures rise and fall in such a way.

Peters shared, “Be patient this time of year because it’s really hard to maintain them. The big thing is we could fill potholes this week and we could get snow next week so just try to be as cautious as you can and understand it’s just that time of year.”

While temperature fluctuation can result conditions that are ideal for potholes popping up, Pulaski County Highway Supervisor Terry Ruff added that it typically it takes a bit longer than a couple of days for them to form.

Ruff said, “Normally our biggest problem will be later on in the year when it stays warm for quite a spell then the potholes really get bad but we haven’t had a spring thaw yet, this has just a couple of days, so the roads should take it for awhile like this.”

If you come across a pothole on a county road, contact your local highway department so they can send a crew out to address it as soon as possible.

Contact information for each highway department appears below:

Starke County Highway Department: 574-772-3011
Pulaski County Highway Department: 574-946-3942
Marshall County Highway Department: 574-936-2181

Keep in mind that these Highway Departments can only address issues on county roads. Local road problems should be reported to the street supervisor in your town or city.

Meanwhile, potholes found on state roads should be reported to the Indiana Department of Transportation. To inform INDOT about an issue, follow the ‘report a concern’ link at potholes.indot.in.gov.

Safety Concerns Addressed at U.S. 30 Work Site But Hamlet Officials Remain Out of Loop

Posted on October 25, 2018
Author Michael Gallenberger, WKVI

Hamlet officials hope a U.S. 30 construction project will wrap up soon. Following a spike in accidents, Town Council President Dave Kesvormas urged INDOT to address safety concerns in the work zone.

During Wednesday’s council meeting, Kesvormas said he never got a direct response, but steps were apparently taken to fix some of the issues. “They didn’t respond to me, but they also did post speed limit signs up there, which weren’t there before,” he explained. “I’m not happy with it being 50, but it’s something. I think it should be 35. I mean, if they’re picking up garbage on the Tollway or 80/94, they slow everything down to 35 miles an hour.” Construction workers also reportedly removed some sections of barrier that were causing visibility problems and stopped parking trucks in the intersection, among other changes.

Town officials felt the work zone was particularly dangerous, since it had lanes closed at an intersection along a curved section of highway without many streetlights. Kesvormas said there have been 11 accidents that he’s aware of.

Again, he complained that no one discussed the project ahead of time with town officials. “It just was never like any other project INDOT has ever done,” he said. “I think that INDOT always did a great job prior to this, and I don’t know if it’s their fault, the contractor’s fault, they’ve got a different contractor. They’ve always at least stopped in and said something to [Clerk-Treasurer Kristina Pitts] or said something to [Street Superintendent] Fred [Rowe], and this time, just to say, ‘Hey, we want to buy some water from you,’ and we’re clueless as to what they’re doing and how long they’re going to be, I think that was just bad on their part.”

At this point, it appears the worst part of the construction project is over, according to Kesvormas. He said he’s heard that work should wrap up by the end of the month, but he hasn’t gotten that information officially. In the meantime, he says Hamlet, Starke County, and state police have all stepped up patrols.

Golf Cart Signage at Bass Lake Causes Confusion

Posted on March 8, 2018
Author Anita Goodan, WKVI

The Starke County Commissioners discussed signs posted by INDOT concerning the operation of golf carts on State Road 10 at Bass Lake.

Commissioner Kathy Norem said she received several comments from members of the Bass Lake Property Owners Association about the signs. Norem said there are conflicting interpretations of the signs that urge motorists to watch for crossing golf carts.

According to INDOT officials, state law prohibits the operation of golf carts on state highways. This includes State Road 10 that winds around the south side of Bass Lake. While the county allows golf carts on designated county roads, the county’s governance has no jurisdiction on state highways. Golf carts may cross the state highway, but a golf cart cannot continuously travel on the state highway. Violators will be ticketed.

INDOT officials say the signs posted at Bass Lake are intended to alert motorists that golf carts may cross a state highway.

County Attorney Marty Lucas will officially submit a letter to INDOT asking for clarification to distribute to the Bass Lake Property Owners Association board members.

Starke County Park Board Seeks Larger Compensation Offer for Bass Lake Beach Gate House Damage

Posted on February 28, 2018
Author Michael Gallenberger, WKVI

The replacement of the Bass Lake Beach gate house may require some more negotiation. The structure was seriously damaged when a pickup truck reportedly crashed into it back in November.

Starke County Park Board President Roger Chaffins says he wants a better offer from the truck owner’s insurance provider. “I’m not too happy with it,” he said. “Basically, they’re just wanting to pay us for the damages to that building after they subtract the rot and the basic wear and tear on the building from years of being there. And they’ve come up with a figure of $2,538.71 to fix that.”

During Tuesday’s park board meeting, Chaffins said the insurance company was ready to give the county a check, but he didn’t want to accept it until County Attorney Marty Lucas could get involved. “My plan is to ask Marty, if you would talk to this guy and see what’s going on with it because I would probably give a few choice cuss words to him, okay? But I haven’t talked to him since February 12 because he just upset me with what he’s got.”

Further complicating matters is the fact that Starke County’s building inspector has found the structure to be unsafe. “Terry Stephenson went out to look at it,” Chaffins explained, “and I’ve got a letter from him and it needs to come down and a new one needs to replace it, is what he stated.”

An estimate from a construction company put the cost of rebuilding the gate house at $15,000.

There have also been questions about whether it could be rebuilt in its current location or if it would have to be moved farther back from State Road 10. Chaffins said he hadn’t gotten a clear answer from INDOT, as of Tuesday’s meeting.

Starke County Highway Department Looks into Brine Application

Posted on February 7, 2018
Author Anita Goodan, WKVI

Starke County Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler told the county commissioners Monday night that the county is getting closer to being able to apply brine to roads to help clear them of snow and ice.

Ritzler said INDOT uses brine on the roads. He said there was a great amount of brine applied on Friday which turned the road white. He noticed that the roads were “clear and wet almost immediately after the snow stopped falling. The county can’t clear the roads to the caliber of the state’s abilities, but Ritzler said that soon may change.

“We’re making steps to do that,” stated Ritzler. “We used a little bit last year. We have one truck for it, but we really can’t make our own brine. We have in our budget this year to install a brine machine. We’re also going to add a second sprayer truck. Upgrading the fleet is very expensive to do so we’ll just use the two water trucks.”

An experienced INDOT maintenance supervisor will be meeting with highway department personnel next week to show them how to install the brine maker, a process he’s been doing with all of INDOT’s facilities.

“INDOT has allowed him to spend the day with us and really show us what to do and not make any mistakes. I have quotes for three different brine machines and he’ll be able to tell us the positives and negatives about each one so we’re excited about that.”

Ritzler added that some other steps will need to be done in order to offer a brine operation.

“We’ll need to add some storage areas and we’ll have to have a little more salt. We’ll add a truck wash bay. It’s very important to get that salt off the trucks. Also, there’s a lecture at road school this year about Harrison County. They upgraded their facility to include brine. He’ll be making a presentation on the mistakes he made and the good things that were done so we’ll be doing that.”

Ritzler will report back to the commissioners about what he learns at road school in a future meeting.

Starke County Economic Development Foundation Hosts U.S. 30 Upgrade Committee Meeting

Posted on October 26, 2017
Author Jacque Ryan, WKVI

The Starke County Economic Development Foundation hosted a meeting last night with various members of the Starke County community who would be impacted by the proposed U.S. 30 Freeway Project.

SCEDF Executive Director Charles Weaver began the meeting and introduced representatives from Appian , a consulting firm that is working with the foundation. President of the organization, Dennis Faulkenberg started by saying that though the project is still very far down the line, they wanted to hear some of the ideas that were circulating within the community.

Faulkenberg advised everyone present that it is imperative to collect data and come up with a concrete plan prior to approaching INDOT. He said that’s the best way to avoid being pressured into doing the most cost effective option at the expense of what is best for the community.

Starke County Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler stated that for the past two months, the highway department has been collecting various data in order to guide any decisions that are made in the future. They are measuring various things such as traffic counts, vehicle types, speeds and accident information. The department will continue collecting this data over a year period in order to accurately assess various trends.

Individuals provided their opinions about the most ideal locations for overpasses and interchanges. The main concerns stemmed from local farmers, small business owners and individuals who administer emergency services within the county.

For instance, representatives from fire departments in the county said there would need to be gates installed for emergency use only to ensure that response times wouldn’t be impacted due to the construction.

Some local farmers expressed concerns about the size of their equipment as well as the fact that farmers utilize different roads at various times of the year so specific data collected may be missing the whole picture and any plans developed from that could be limited.

Individuals speaking for various small businesses in Hamlet were worried that if the freeway is implemented in a particular area, it would cut off the town from incoming traffic since individuals would have to go out of their way in order to get there.

Executive Director Weaver announced that another meeting will be scheduled when Highway Superintendent Ritzler can provide some more findings from his department’s data collection. Weaver and the Appian representatives thanked the community members for coming out and providing their input.

Though ultimately no definite decisions were reached, the preliminary planning stages are off the ground. Last night’s meeting was the first step in coming up with a solid proposal to provide to INDOT for consideration.

To hear more details from Wednesday night’s meeting, tune into WKVI’s program Kankakee Valley Viewpoints this Sunday at noon.

State Road 39 Closed for Bridge Work in Pulaski County

Posted on September 25, 2017
Author Anita Goodan, WKVI

Crews from the Indiana Department of Transportation are closing State Road 39 between County Road 750 South and County Road 800 South in Pulaski County beginning today through the end of October.

Restoration of the bridge over the Harp Ditch will be conducted during that time.

INDOT officials say this $350,000 bridge restoration investment will be in the hands of JCI Bridge Group, Inc.

The official detour takes a southbound driver from State Road 39 west to State Road 14, south on U.S. 421, east on State Road 16 and back to State Road 39. Northbound travelers will reverse the route.

For more information on road closures, road conditions and traffic alerts any time, visit www.trafficwise.in.gov.

Three Starke County Community Crossings Projects Awarded

Posted on September 25, 2017
Author Anita Goodan, WKVI

Funding for three Starke County projects were approved by INDOT as part of the Community Crossings grant.

Starke County was awarded just under $571,000 which will be a reimbursement in state matching funds for work done on Bridge No. 50 on County Road 1150 E. over the Osborn Ditch about three miles south of State Road 10, and Bridge No. 47 on County Road 625 S. over Osborn Ditch, just over a half mile west of County Road 875 E.

The paving project on 300 E. from State Road 8 to 1,110 feet south of Division Road was also approved for Community Crossings grant funds. According to Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler, this will be the first hot mix project under the new 10-year truck route paving plan. This would complete paving in the Industrial Park in Knox. The county’s match for this project will be provided by the Starke County Economic Development Foundation. The project will begin in the spring of 2018.

Ritzler said he was happy with what projects INDOT funded for the county, especially with the number of applications handed into INDOT for this year’s grant round. He said the county, City of Knox, Town of North Judson, and the Town of Hamlet did really well as a whole in getting projects approved by state grant funds.

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.

Railroad Pavement Markings, Signs to be Updated

Posted on August 12, 2017
Author Anita Goodan, WKVI

Some railroad signs and pavement markings will be updated soon in Starke County.

Starke County Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler told the commissioners this week that INDOT recently conducted a railroad crossing audit for the county. Crews found 23 crossings that needed improvement with updated pavement markings or signs.

Ritzler said he is working on funding to update these crossings.

“We applied for a grant totaling just under $37,000 to replace 43 signs and 88 pavement markings,” commented Ritzler. “Pavement markings are expensive. For us to do it, it costs $610 per sticker, but TCS (Traffic Control Specialists) has a machine that can do it for the same price and much better. So, we’ve got a quote from them to do that. If we get the grant, they will be doing our pavement markings for us.”

Ritzler said this is not a matching or reimbursable grant. This particular grant covers 100 percent of the cost. Ritzler feels confident that the county will receive the grant since INDOT helped the county properly complete the paperwork.

Be Aware of Construction Workers in Work Zones

Posted on April 4, 2017
Author Anita Goodan, WKVI

April marks the beginning of the highway construction season. The Indiana Department of Transportation urges motorists to slow down in construction zones.

This will be a busy road construction season. INDOT will oversee more than 300 construction contracts totaling more than $1 billion in capital investment. Pavement resurfacing will encompass 3,047 miles. Work will focus on improving traffic mobility and safety. Dozens of interchanges and intersections will be improved across the state. INDOT and its contractors will also rehabilitate or construct 486 bridges and small structures.

Since 2014, at least 12 people are killed each year in INDOT work zone crashes. Eighty percent of those killed are motorists or their passengers.

With this being Work Zone Awareness week, INDOT officials urge motorists to look for signs for reduced speed limits and narrow driving lanes and highway workers. Merge early. If drivers merge as soon as they see signs, traffic will flow much more smoothly. Maintain a safe distance on all sides of the vehicle and adhere to posted speed limits. Drivers should minimize distractions and plan ahead. Expect travel delays during construction season and allow extra travel time.

For an interactive online map to keep up to date on current road construction projects, click on this link for more details.

INDOT Seeks Input on Selection of Future Highway Projects

Reminder: INDOT staff hosting regional open houses starting this week

The Indiana Department of Transportation is inviting its customers and the public to provide input on the selection of future state-highway construction projects.

To use federal funds, a transportation project must be listed in a four-year budget document known as the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program. In urban areas, Metropolitan Planning Organizations produce and collect public input on their own Transportation Improvement Programs.

Provide input

INDOT’s draft Statewide Transportation Improvement Program is available for public review at www.in.gov/indot/3132.htm. The document lists construction projects planned from July 2017 through June 2021 and the funds available for transportation projects and programs including highways, transit, bicycles and pedestrians.

The public may submit comments through:

• The web comment form at www.in.gov/indot/3132.htm,
• Email addressed to draftstip@indot.in.gov,
• Postal mail addressed to 

Michael McNeil,  INDOT STIP Director
100 N. Senate Ave.
IGCN 955
Indianapolis, IN 46204

• Paper comment forms at one of six regional open houses.
• INDOT respectfully requests that all comments be submitted or postmarked by Monday, May 1.  INDOT will then collate and respond to comments and questions on the record as an appendix to the final document.

Regional open houses

Open houses hosted by INDOT’s regional district staff offer an informal setting for the public to ask questions and discuss a variety of transportation programs including planning, multimodal, public involvement, Title VI and the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The open houses will be held from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Eastern time at the dates and locations listed below.

Tuesday, March 28, 2017: INDOT Seymour District, 185 Agrico Lane, Seymour, IN 47274
Wednesday, March 29, 2017: INDOT Sub-District Office, 3650 S. U.S. 41, Vincennes, IN 47591
Thursday, March 30, 2017: Crawfordsville Public Library, 205 S. Washington St., Crawfordsville, IN 47933
Tuesday, April 11, 2017: INDOT District Office, 315 E. Boyd Blvd., LaPorte, IN 46350*
Wednesday, April 12, 2017: INDOT District Office, 5333 Hatfield Rd., Fort Wayne, IN 46808
Thursday, April 13, 2017: INDOT Traffic Management Center, 8620 E. 21st St., Indianapolis, IN 46219
    *Please note that INDOT’s LaPorte District office is located in the Central time zone, where local time for the open house is 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Special accommodations

With advance notice, special accommodations will be made for individuals needing auxiliary aids or services of interpreters, signers, readers, or large print. Anyone with such needs should contact Rickie Clark with INDOT's Office of Public Involvement at 317-232-6601 or rclark@indot.in.gov.


#INDOTDrivesIndiana
Submit written comments
Michael McNeil
INDOT STIP Director
100 N. Senate Ave., IGCN 955
Indianapolis, IN 46204
draftstip@indot.in.gov
www.in.gov/indot/3132.htm

INDOT Closes U.S. 421 for Bridge Deck Replacement

Posted on March 6, 2017
Author Mary Perren, WKVI

Motorists traveling north on U.S. 421 through LaPorte County will need to find a new route for the next few months. The Indiana Department of Transportation is replacing the entire bridge deck over the Bailey Road railroad tracks in Wanatah, just south of U.S. 30.

Work on the project starts today and will wrap up in mid-June. Until then the marked detour route around the closure uses State Road 8 to State Road 39 to U.S. 30.

Drivers in Northwest Indiana can monitor road closures, road conditions, and traffic alerts at any time via the District’s social media channels, www.Facebook.com/INDOTNorthwest or Twitter @INDOTNorthwest or online at http://www.trafficwise.in.gov.

INDOT Schedules Chip Sealing in Pulaski County

Posted on August 27, 2016
Author Mary Perren, WKVI 

A section of U.S. 421 in Pulaski County will be closed next week for chip seal work. Starting Monday, INDOT will close the highway between the State Road 14 west junction and State Road 114. It’s scheduled to reopen Wednesday, but the work is dependent on the weather.

State road detours must be along state-maintained roadways. Drivers heading north on U.S. 421 will be detoured west on 114, north on U.S. 231 and east onto 14 to get back to 421. Southbound motorists will take 14 west to 231 South to 114 east to get back to 421.

INDOT officials say chip sealing extends the life of a roadway by protecting it from moisture, ultraviolet degradation and other damaging exposures. It also reestablishes surface friction, which makes the pavement safer for the motoring public.

Drivers in Northwest Indiana can monitor road closures, road conditions, and traffic alerts at any time via the District’s social media channels: www.Facebook.com/INDOTNorthwest or Twitter @INDOTNorthwest. Or visit http://www.trafficwise.in.gov for INDOT’s TrafficWise Traveler Information Service.

Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum Turns to Public to Cover Legal Fees

Posted on June 28, 2016
Author Michael Gallenberger, WKVI 

As the Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum continues its efforts to resume excursions to LaCrosse, it’s asking the public for help covering its legal fees. The museum believes the restriction of its trains is a violation of the terms of an INDOT grant the Town of North Judson received in 2004 to purchase the line.

To argue its case, the museum says it’s had to hire both a local attorney and a federal one, and now it’s launched a GoFundMe page to help pay the legal bills. While the track is owned by the Town of North Judson, it’s operated by the Chesapeake and Indiana Railroad, under an extension of an agreement that expired in December. However, the terms of that extension have severely restricted the museum’s ability to run trains past English Lake and into LaCrosse.

While the museum believes this violates the terms of the INDOT grant, North Judson has questioned whether these provisions are in conflict with federal law. INDOT’s attorneys say the terms are valid, since it doesn’t appear that they prevent the operator from delivering freight.

Meanwhile, the town hopes to resolve the issue by leasing the railroad to a new operator, and including further protections for the museum in the lease agreement. Proposals from potential operators are due this Friday.

Indiana Pilots Program Designed to Enforce Overweight Truck Limits

June 11, 2016AuthorTyler Maffitt, WKVI 

 

A new pilot program is looking to extend the life of Indiana’s roadways and capture revenue that the state believes is currently being evaded.

INDOT, IDOR, the Indiana State Police, and Kapsch Traffic Com launched the Indiana Direct Weigh-in Motion and Credential Enforcement program on Friday morning.

It will be used along Interstate 94 in Northwest Indiana near Chesterton. According to information provided by the Indiana Department of Transportation, one 80-thousand pound truck causes as much damage to the roadway as 9,600 cars.

The pilot program is designed to gather data about commercial truck traffic and ultimately recommend legislative changes to modernize the state’s overweight vehicle enforcement program.

Those in violation of their weight permit would see their license plate captured by the technology and mailed a violation ticket.

The program was started Friday morning during a ceremony near Chesterton.