County proceeds with road work

With a Community Crossings grant funding much of the work, more than 12 miles of Putnam County roads were repaved in recent weeks, including West Walnut Street Road from Greencastle to County Road 450 West.

Banner Graphic/JARED JERNAGAN

Amid reports that revenue is better than expected, Putnam County is proceeding cautiously with road work.

As governmental agencies began to take stock of the financial impacts of COVID-19 back in the spring, county officials were bracing for a 30-percent shortfall in tax draws through the end of 2020.

As such, county road preservation projects, outside of hot mix paving that was already on the books through a Community Crossings grant, were put on hold.

While revenue is certainly coming in at a lower level than pre-pandemic projections, Highway Supervisor Mike Ricketts recently told the Putnam County Commissioners it is not as bad as had been expected.

As such, Ricketts said the county would be commencing with some double chip-and-seal projects that had been on hold.

The plan was to start with County Road 250 North between County Road 190 West and 400 West and County Road 1100 North from U.S. 231 to County Road 475 West.

The county has been purchasing millings from INDOT to help with projects such as these.

Additionally, the Community Crossings projects, all of which are funded through a 75-25 match from the state, are all complete.

Coming in at a cost of $1,573,802.40, the project meant new hot mix asphalt for a little more than 12 miles of county road.

This work included:

• Bainbridge-Roachdale Road from Bainbridge to County Road 1000 North in Monroe and Franklin townships;

• West Walnut Street Road from Greencastle to County Road 450 West in Greencastle and Madison townships;

• Lonestar Road from Manhattan Road to Bridge 122 in Greencastle Township;

• Golf Course Road (1100 South) From State Road 42 to Meridian Line Road in Cloverdale Township; and

• County Road 1000 East from 400 South to 600 South in Jefferson Township.