Residents and visitors of Lewisburg will have to wait up to seven months longer to cross the bridge into town over the Wabash River.

Jack Isom Construction, the contractor restoring the Lewisburg bridge, failed to complete the project on time, reportedly because of weather conditions, and has asked for an extension until June 30, 2008. The bridge was scheduled to be finished Oct. 31.

Cass County Engineer Jodi Coblentz informed the commissioners on Monday that the highway department is fighting to get the extension request denied because officials believe Jack Isom Construction did not take all possible measures to ensure the project was completed on time.

“They are still working, but it’s still the same slow crew that we’ve had all summer,” Coblentz told commissioners.

At the meeting, Commissioner Steve Kain asked about weather and if it was possible to complete the bridge this year.

“It’s not so much the weather,” Coblentz said. “It’s just they have so much to do.”

Isom has yet to provide a sample of the custom concrete balusters for the bridge railing. The design and material must match 1913 style and get approved. Coblentz said they have been waiting over a year, and a bridge with no railing cannot be used.

“Without the bridge rails we cannot let traffic over it,” Coblentz said.

The bridge requires more than 800 balusters, none of which are installed.

Isom Construction has completed the north portion of deck on the bridge and a majority of the underneath. A crew is pouring concrete for the south portion of deck this week.

The $2 million project is 75.6 percent complete, according to the most recent progress report.

The company’s primary reason for being behind schedule is high water levels, cold temperatures and snow.

“This severely limited our ability to perform pier reconstruction or temporary supports,” wrote Bill Isom in the request letter dated Oct. 26.

From Nov. 13, 2006, through June 4, Isom Construction only worked a handful of hours, according to the request letter from the contractor.

“I have two of the best foreman in the state working this project but because of the restrictions due to design, water levels, cold temperature and redesign that were not within our control, I am asking for an extension to the completion date,” Isom wrote.

Coblentz said she saw this coming.

“We knew they weren’t going to meet it, but their schedule said they were,” Coblentz said. “They just didn’t follow their schedule.”

The county sent a letter to the Indiana Department of Transportation explaining why the extension should not be granted. INDOT has yet to respond, according to Coblentz.

In the meantime, project supervisor Casey Lynch responded to Jack Isom Construction in a letter dated Nov. 5 stating the extension to the contract would not be granted at this time. Lynch, who is employed by both the county and INDOT as quality control, instructed Isom what to include if he resubmitted the request.

The company is expected to explain why the project was scheduled to begin Sept. 5, 2006, but no one showed up to work on it until 61 days later. The county also wants to know what measures will be taken to regain those days and complete the project in a timely manner.

Currently payment is being withheld until a “complete and realistic” work schedule is submitted. Also, Jack Isom Construction began incurring liquidated damages at a rate of $1,500 per day on Nov. 1, which will accumulate until an extension is granted.

INDOT is aware of the contractor’s request. As of Thursday morning, they had not responded.

Besides inconvenience to residents, the delay is increasing the cost of the project, which is a big concern, says Coblentz.

Restoring the bridge is paid for through 80 percent federal funds and 20 percent local bridge funds. Most engineering on the project was paid for with a transportation enhancement grant, which is used for historic bridges.

INDOT and the county will likely pass the extra expense along to Isom Construction, Coblentz said.

In September 2005, a portion of the 94-year-old span fell into the Wabash. The bridge is 452 feet long and has not been repaired since 1986. The restoration is designed to add at least 50 years of life to the bridge.

One of three

Engineers want to preserve the character of the 1913 bridge because of its historic significance.

“We’re restoring it to as close to as original 1913 as possible,” Coblentz said.

The Lewisburg bridge is the oldest of three Luten bridges remaining in the county and one of only 51 statewide. The other two are the old Cass Station Road Bridge over the Wabash, just west of the existing bridge on 600E, and the Third Street Bridge over the Eel River in Logansport.

The Luten arch was designed by Daniel Luten, an early 20th century bridge designer from Indiana who taught at Purdue University.

Coblentz said the Lewisburg bridge is endorsed by the National Landmark Historical Society, the National Registry of Historic Places and Historic Bridges of Indiana.

Kevin Lilly can be reached at (574) 732-5117, or via e-mail at kevin.lilly@pharostribune.com