Indiana Gov. Holcomb Announces Five-Year, $4.7 Billion Roads Plan
Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb announced July 17 what he called the state’s largest infrastructure project by far, a $4.7 billion plan to pave roads and rehab bridges over the next five years.
The site of the U.S. 33 realignment in Goshen, Indiana was the latest stop on Holcomb’s statewide tour to introduce the Next Level plan, which is part of the 20-year road funding plan fueled by recent changes like the 10 cent gas tax increase. He said it’s proof the state can plan for the future while living within its means.
“We’re always seeking to address, what is that next big challenge, what is that next issue that we must address?” he said near the U.S. 33 railroad overpass being built just east of downtown, which was funded by a previous infrastructure program. “We don’t rest, we don’t put it in cruise control, we don’t decide to coast, because the only place you can coast is downhill. And we’re doing absolutely the opposite of that, by putting the pedal to the metal, so to speak, and getting busy on this latest infrastructure program.”
Rep. Ed Soliday, chair of the House Committee on Roads and Transportation, said planners had three goals: Taking care of existing infrastructure, finishing projects that were already started and building infrastructure that businesses and the state economy can thrive on. He said they were also guided by a principle not to leave debt for the next generation to pay.
The plan includes projects in every county, adding 122 lane miles of roads, resurfacing 9,628 miles and rehabilitating or replacing 1,295 bridges. It calls for spending close to $1 billion per year between 2018 and 2021, and nearly $700,000 in 2022.
In Elkhart County, the plan calls for resurfacing 219 lane miles and repairing or replacing 31 bridges at a five-year investment total of $45.8 million. Year by year, major projects and their cost estimates include:
2018:
• S.R. 19 between Beardsley and Edwardsburg avenues, pavement overlay, $1.8 million
• U.S. 33 bridge over Elkhart River just north of S.R. 15, deck overlay, $501,000
• Numerous bridges on U.S. 20, deck overlay, patching and painting, ranging from $21,000 to $2.4 million
2019:
• S.R. 15 for seven and a half miles north of U.S. 6, pavement overlay, preventative maintenance, $2.4 million
• S.R. 19 between U.S. 20 and I-80/90, pavement overlay, preventative maintenance, $2.7 million
2020:
• Further bridge work on U.S. 20, including superstructure replacement over Yellow Creek for $4.5 million and deck overlay over the Elkhart River for $2.1 million
• Intersection improvement and roundabout installation at U.S. 6 and S.R. 13, $2.8 million
2021:
• U.S. 20 from S.R. 15 to four miles east of S.R. 15, auxiliary lanes and two-way left turn lanes, $14.8 million
• S.R. 19 from five miles south of U.S. 6 to half a mile north of U.S. 6, pavement overlay, $2.3 million.
