Indiana Floats $1B Road Maintenance Plan

Emergency repairs to an unstable pier supporting an Interstate-65 bridge near Lafayette, Ind., were completed last month after a four-week closure.

*Photo Credit: Photo courtesy Nicholson Construction Co.*

Indiana Gov. Mike Pence (R) has unveiled a $1-billion funding plan that will fund additional road projects in the state for four years.

The plan, announced on Oct. 13, would allow Indiana Dept. of Transportation (INDOT) to begin a 15-year initiative to resurface an estimated 16,000 mi of state highways and repair some 5,200 bridges across the Hoosier State.

“These additional funds will help INDOT make future maintenance and repairs as the Interstate system comes of age,” Pence says.

The 2017-2020 plan, called 21st Century Crossroads, builds on the $3.2 billion that INDOT had already planned to spend over the next five years, Pence noted.

INDOT has come under scrutiny recently for closing a portion of I-65 for a month for emergency repairs after a bridge settled unexpectedly. In addition, state reports of asphalt pavements failing prematurely raised questions about specifications and contract oversight.

Funding for the new plan will come from bonds, cash reserves and future appropriations without raising taxes, Pence noted.

After a short stint as a freelance contributor to ENR, Tudor joined the editorial staff in 2002 and was a managing editor. His areas of expertise included construction equipment, trucks, tools, materials and global construction. He was a certified crane operator and reported heavy construction news in the U.S. and outside—including Europe, Dubai, India and China.