U.S. 231 project goal is still to complete first leg this fall

NOTE: Due to an unforeseen technical problem, the version of this story printed in the Tuesday, Aug. 1 physical edition of the Banner Graphic was rendered nearly unreadable. A proper version will be reprinted in the Friday, Aug. 4 edition.

Seldom these days does a City of Greencastle meeting transpire without the topic of the ongoing U.S. 231 reconstruction project rearing its ugly head.

That was the case again Thursday at the July Greencastle Redevelopment Commission (RDC) meeting.

Near the end of the meeting, Mayor Bill Dory was giving his monthly report, updating projects around town or in the offing.

The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT), he said, is “working diligently” on the process of redesigning the project to a full-depth pavement replacement and is “working through the process of getting the paperwork approved.”

RDC member Gary Lemon pretty much took exception to that assessment.

“I don’t know about diligent,” he said, noting that there doesn’t appear to be any progress being made along the stretch of U.S. 231 from Veterans Memorial Highway to Washington Street.

“What bothers me,” Lemon added, “is that as I drive through there, nobody’s working on it.”

Mayor Dory explained that the redesign has been completed, submitted to INDOT July 24 and is being released to the contractor.

“They found the concrete base is not in good shape,” the mayor explained, noting that the requisite borings were done before work commenced, “but once they started stripping pavement off, they found it is not in good shape.”

The goal, Mayor Dory assured, remains to get “that leg of the project done this fall.”

“Both sides?” Lemon responded.

“Yes,” the mayor said.

Meanwhile, INDOT has announced updates to multiple construction projects happening in and around Greencastle.

The northbound lane of U.S. 231 remains restricted as part of the ongoing major pavement improvement project in Greencastle. The northbound lane is restricted between State Road 240 and Washington Street. Northbound traffic has been shifted into the existing southbound lane within the work zone, and is restricted to 10-feet wide.

INDOT appreciates the continued cooperation of the community and the traveling public.

The U.S. 231 project includes four phases, and will involve both lane restrictions and closures. The project limits are on U.S. 231, between SR 240 and Frazier Street. Work includes milling, curb replacement, curb ramp reconstruction and full-depth pavement replacement work. One-way traffic will be maintained throughout the project, with exception to the closures.

INDOT will hold public information meetings before work starts on U.S. 231 in each construction season.

Right now, INDOT’s maintenance team is performing chip-and-seal operations on U.S. 231, which is temporarily closed from approximately 1.05 miles north of Interstate 70 to approximately 0.22 miles south of Veterans Highway. The closure is expected to last for last through the week.

Currently, crews are also milling and paving portions of State Road 240 between U.S. 231 and County Road 475 East. Traffic is being controlled by a flagging operation and/or will be moved to the road shoulders as needed. No detour is required, as the road is not closed. The restrictions are expected to last through early October, weather permitting. The entire contract is expected to be completed in October 2024, weather permitting.