by Kevin Lilly
CLYMERS — Construction for the Hoosier Heartland Corridor is under way around Clymers.
Motorists have likely noticed concrete barriers going up and heavy equipment moving earth in an area along Ind. 25 between county roads 500 South and 325 West. The $17.75 million project, which was awarded to Walsh Construction out of Chicago, began earlier than other portions of the Heartland in Cass County because of soil type.
“What this project is doing is building the road base for the new Ind. 25,” said Joshua Bingham, a communications specialist with the Indiana Department of Transportation.
That road base will be 20 to 30 feet higher than the current level of Ind. 25. Along with excavation work, Walsh Construction will build a bridge over the Winamac & Southern Railroad spur and 400 West, and another one over the Norfolk & Southern Railroad spur to the east of 400 West.
“For the reason of settlement, we’re building the bridge up, and we’re building the road base,” Bingham said. “Then later, we’ll come through and pave it.”
Completion of the project is set for April 30, 2011, which will allow for a settling period of two to three months before pavement is applied. The paving contract for this section of roadway is tentatively scheduled to be awarded this spring, with an estimated completion date in the summer of 2012.
As the weather allows crews to work, motorists may experience delays in the area while flaggers control traffic to allow placement of barriers for a temporary widening of Ind. 25. On the south side of the existing highway, the roadway will be widened by about six feet. A concrete median will then be installed on the north side of Ind. 25.
“Other than the flagging happening right now while we’re doing the excavation and road widening work, there should not be any more big road restrictions,” said Bingham, who warns motorists to be aware of heavy machinery entering the highway.
County Road 400 West was closed on Monday and will remain so until the project is finished in 2011.
The northbound detour around the closure is along 400 South, 500 West and 350 South.
The entire segment three of the Hoosier Heartland Corridor between Carroll County Road 400 West and Cass County Road 325 West is tentatively scheduled for completion at the end of 2013.
The $450 million project is part of Gov. Mitch Daniels’ Major Moves initiative. INDOT officials continue to say the entire 31 miles of the project from Lafayette to Logansport is fully funded.
• Kevin Lilly is news editor of the Pharos-Tribune. He can be reached at 574-732-5117 or kevin.lilly@pharostribune.com.
Want to know more?
• Another informational meeting regarding the Hoosier Heartland Corridor is scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday at the armory on Armory Road in Delphi. Indiana Department of Transportation officials will be available to answer questions at the meeting, which was organized by the strategic planning group Carroll County at the Crossroads.
• HHC information online: Maps and other information regarding the Hoosier Heartland can be found online at http://bit.ly/4HdPSj
