Indiana allocates $156 million for road, bridge improvement projects

The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) awarded $155.6 million to improve bridges, roads and sidewalks across 51 counties and cities. The federal transportation funds will enable rural communities to design and develop local projects in addition to buying rights of way.

The latest round of awards emphasizes improving the condition of local bridges. INDOT awarded a majority of the funds, $90.3 million, to rehab or replace 32 local bridges in poor condition. While the awards are dedicated to construction, INDOT will contribute to design, engineering and right-of-way acquisition.

The remainder of the funds will help rural communities resurface and reconstruct pavement, improve sidewalks, build ADA ramps, install trails and enhance traffic safety.

Every year, INDOT allocates approximately 25% of its federal highway funds to local projects. To receive funding, communities must match 20% of the funds while meeting other federal requirements.

Aside from the funds allocated to local bridge projects, INDOT will split the money between project categories:

Local road projects will receive $28.9 million.
Intersection improvement projects will receive $18.6 million.
Local transportation alternatives projects will receive $9.1 million.
Local safety projects will receive $8.2 million.
New and modernized signing projects will receive $506,250.

Montgomery County will receive the largest award, totaling $16 million to improve an intersection at Nucor Road, located near Crawfordsville. Crawfordsville is 51 miles northwest of Indianapolis. Other large projects receiving funding include $7.6 million for Lebanon to improve Noble Street, $7.3 million for Allen County to improve the Ferguson Road bridge and $7.2 million to Boone County for the County Road 300 South bridge project.