ROYAL CENTER — The Cass County Highway Department’s goal is to finish two county-funded bridge replacements west of Royal Center this year.
LaPorte Construction Co. workers recently knocked out the small structure over Fredericks Ditch on Center Street while a crew from the same company is within three weeks of finishing the bridge that carries 650N over Strubhar Ditch just east of 900W.
“Things are really starting to take shape now,” Jeff Smith, the county highway department’s project manager, said of the bridge on 650N.
New beams were put in place by a crane Wednesday, and the concrete deck that is replacing the steel grating is scheduled for pouring on Tuesday, as long as the rain holds off. Already workers are dealing with sloppy, muddy conditions.
In one of the loudest portions of the projects, Royal Center area residents will hear a seven-ton diesel hammer driving new bridge pilings some 45 feet into the ground.
Smith is hoping to get the approaches to both bridges down before asphalt plants close for the winter. With the 650N structure expected to be finished shortly after Thanksgiving, that should not be an issue, but in a worst-case scenario, the Center Street bridge would have gravel approaches until spring, he said. The rest of the project is on schedule for opening in six weeks.
Both bridges were in need of repair. Abutments had started to lean and were sinking into the ground. They dated to the 1930s, Smith said.
The county determines a bridge needs to be replaced by the state-required inspections that are conducted every two years.
Each bridge is costing the county about $270,000.
The new bridges have a life expectancy of between 60 and 80 years, if they’re properly cared for, Smith said.
• Kevin Lilly is news editor of the Pharos-Tribune. He can be reached at 574-732-5117 or kevin.lilly@pharostribune.com.
Local News
Related Photos
-
BRIDGE OUT: Workers spent two days this week demolishing the small bridge over Fredericks Ditch on Center Street in Royal Center. The county hopes to have the $270,000 project finished by the end of the year.
Discussion
Bridges set for completion this year
Replacements will cost the county more than $500,000
- Local News
-
-
Divine decade
Linda Hoffman remembers walking in to the building that houses Emmaus Mission Center Homeless Shelter more than 10 years ago.
-
County ambulance talks continue
Cass County officials met with another private firm last week as they explore which way to go with the county’s obligation to provide ambulance service.
-
City to consider reducing tipping fee
Logansport City Council members plans to discuss decreasing the amount the city receives in tipping fees from Oak Ridge Recycling and Disposal Facility at a special meeting tonight.
-
Caston officials discussing $2 million in capital projects
Caston School Corp. officials are eyeing a new bus barn and parking lots as they consider spending about $2 million on capital projects.
-
The state option: Local educators unsure of impacts of ‘No Child’ waiver
Indiana last week received a waiver from the federal No Child Left Behind act, but local superintendents say the move may just swap one rigid set of guidelines for another without addressing educators’ frustrations.
-
Filings in: Three Republican primaries
Cass County Republicans will cast ballots in three races in the May 8 primary, while Democrats will vote on who to send to the state convention.
-
Logansport officials: Wireless plan not dead
Logansport City Council members last week nixed funding of a $850,000 wireless project approved late last year, but officials say the project is not completely off the radar.
-
Miami County officials say they knew of company’s past issues
Reports that a Texas-based company owed more than $500,000 in back taxes, was behind on its rent and had an executive indicted surfaced about a year before corporate leaders began discussing an expansion to Miami County.
-
Dean Baldwin’s past includes tax payment problems, indictment of executive
An aircraft service provider expanding to Miami County had a blur of bad publicity a few years before announcing its plans to come to the area.
-
Principal: Lewis Cass student attacked with piece of wood
A Lewis Cass Junior-Senior High School freshman remained hospitalized Friday after being attacked by a classmate with a piece of wood, the school’s principal said.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Nordic Festival Puts North Korea in Spotlight
'Rumor Has It' Adele's Rolling in the Grammys
Grohl, Grammy Nominees Cut Up on the Red Carpet
Greece Passes New Austerity Deal Amid Rioting
Coroner: Houston Autopsy Results Weeks Away
Raw Video: Greek Rioting Ahead of Austerity Vote
Raw Video: Child Rescued After Kosovo Avalanche
Pop Music Superstar Whitney Houston Dies at 48
Whitney Houston's Church Mourns Her Passing
Reaction to Houston's Death at Clive Davis Party
79 Turtles Seized at Shanghai Airport
Severe Cold Wreaks Havoc in China
Fuel Removal Under Way on Capsized Italian Ship
Police: Houston Found Dead in Her Hotel Room
Paul Suffers Narrow Loss to Romney in Maine
Palin Brings Anti-Washington Message to CPAC
Obama Scraps Birth Control Mandate
Navy Names Ship for Gabrielle Giffords
Uzbek Man Pleads Guilty in Plot to Kill Obama
Marines: No Punishment for Nazi-like Flag
