INDOT to host hearing Wednesday on U.S. 231 project

A public meeting designed to acquaint residents with the proposed U.S. 231 rehabilitation project through Greencastle is scheduled for Wednesday, June 23 at the Putnam County Fairgrounds.

The 5:30-7:30 p.m. Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) session will be conducted in Community Building East on the Putnam County Fairgrounds.

The meeting was originally set for April but was canceled due to COVID-19 concerns.

The proposed INDOT project, scheduled for 2022, includes resurfacing the roadway with asphalt from State Road 240 (Veterans Memorial Highway) north to Washington Street and pavement replacement from Washington Street north to the railroad crossing. From the railroad crossing north to Frazier Street the pavement will be milled, patched and resurfaced.

Also, the existing city water main located under U.S. 231 along Jackson and Washington Streets will be relocated outside of the roadway, INDOT said.

The public information meeting is seen as an opportunity for INDOT to meet with members of the community regarding the road work, solicit input and address concerns the community may have regarding the proposed project.

INDOT is also providing a virtual opportunity to watch the public information meeting live online. The presentation will be conducted via the online meeting platform Zoom. Persons who would to attend virtually may e-mail Lisa Casler at lcasler@rqaw.com to receive the link to the meeting.

The meeting will inform the community of the project scope and schedule, describe preliminary design plans and solicit input and comments from community members. The meeting will feature a brief presentation followed by a question-and-answer session.

INDOT representatives will be available to address questions, comments and concerns. Project maps, displays and informational handouts will be available.

Purpose of the project is to improve the pavement and roadway drainage conditions along U.S. 231 from State Road 240 north to Frazier Street.

Another desirable outcome is to improve Americans with Disabilities (ADA) facilities within the project area, as needed. The project consists of three sections and proposes a combination of minor structural overlay, full-depth pavement replacement and pavement overlay.

Other associated work includes replacing curb and gutters, modifying curb ramps that do not meet current ADA standards, regrading driveway approaches, replacing sidewalks as needed, replacing the storm sewer and installing new inlets and replacing the public water utility line located below the roadway pavement from the railroad crossing just north of Shadowlawn Avenue south through the downtown area.

The maintenance of traffic (MOT) plan will involve maintaining through traffic with a detour and local traffic with phased construction. MOT details will be presented during the public information meeting. Access to all properties, including Robe-Ann Park, will be maintained during construction. INDOT will coordinate with emergency services, local school officials and project stakeholders to ensure potential disruptions are minimized as much as possible.

The project will require approximately 0.15 acre of permanent right-of-way and 0.70 acre of temporary right-of-way, INDOT said.

Federal and state funds will be used for construction of this project with the city providing some matching funds on relocation of the waterline.