U.S. 231 project restricted to two-block bites

Rather than having U.S. 231 torn up all the way through Greencastle later this year, the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) has come up with a construction plan that was music to city officials’ ears.

Plans to restrict the contractor on the major U.S. 231 project to a two-block-at-a-time pace were revealed to the City Council at its March meeting.

That means residents won’t face the feared sight of U.S. 231, aka Jackson Street, being under construction all at once from the Monon crossing to Veterans Memorial Highway.

Responding to a question from Councilman Dave Murray, Mayor Bill Dory explained that INDOT will maintain northbound traffic through the construction zone when work begins on the section of Bloomington Street between Veterans Highway and Washington Street later this summer.

Construction bids are due back to INDOT June 15, the mayor said, with the initial work slated for August or September.

“If the pavement lasts that long,” the project will then move to the Washington Street portion between Bloomington and Jackson streets, Dory added.

“The nice thing is that they’re only allowing the contractor to do work in two-block sections at a time,” the mayor added. “Most normal local traffic will be able to manage that.”

While local drivers will wind their way a couple of blocks around the detour, city officials will work with local industries on rerouting truck traffic as much as possible. The official state detour uses State Road 240 to State Road 75 to U.S. 36.

“When the work starts on Washington and Jackson is when we’ll see the biggest impact,” Mayor Dory said.

As part of that work, the ancient waterline along Jackson Street and part of Washington will be replaced.

“One of the big benefits that INDOT is paying for a replacement of the water line on Jackson Street and part of Washington Street. They (the state, INDOT) are paying 80 percent of that, so that’s a big savings to our ratepayers,” the mayor said.

“So, yes, it’s going to be an aggravation, but a very significant benefit to the community,” he added.

The mayor was asked how old that water main is and explained that it is “well over 100 years old.” Another estimate put its origins in the 1800s.

The replacement waterline will go back to the original 12-inch line, Dory said, after being restricted to 10 inches following an interior liner project in the past 25 years.

“So that will help the capacity of our line,” the mayor said.

The project is going to be a “traffic nightmare for a while,” he added, “but this is one of those projects that has a 50-year life, so a little bit of short-term pain for long-term gain.”