New speed limit in place for Nineveh Road
CORDRY-SWEETWATER — In preparation for parts of Nineveh Road being paved, the Brown County Commissioners have lowered the speed limit to help keep workers safe.
At the July 17 commissioners meeting, Brown County Highway Superintendent Mike Magner reported that his department has had problems with drivers speeding whenever crews go up there to work.
He provided the commissioners with an ordinance that would lower the speed limit from 35 MPH to 25 MPH in the construction zone. The major roads in the Cordry-Sweetwater Conservancy District also have a 25 MPH speed limit.
“I would like to extend that all the way up to Beech Tree; that way it’s within our work zone and it’s safer for our guys while they are out there working,” he said.
This fall, crews will be out there at various times to patch. Once paving starts, it should take about two days, Magner said.
He also reached out to the Brown County Sheriff’s Department about providing traffic enforcement in that area.
The speed limit reduction will be in place through construction.
“After construction is over, then we can revisit it if we want to post it back,” Magner said.
The 25 MPH limit took effect July 18 from the Beech Tree intersection on Nineveh Road to the northern boundary of the Cordry-Sweetwater Conservancy District in both directions.
Repairs started on historic covered bridge
Repairs have begun in an effort to reopen the historic covered bridge in Bean Blossom.
The Bean Blossom Covered Bridge on Covered Bridge Road was closed to all vehicle traffic in May.
In June, Brown County Highway Superintendent Mike Magner said the actual bridge is “as good as it ever was”; the problem is in the support structure and approach to it.
On the north end there are two small approach spans that are exposed. He said there are five beams under the wooden deck and that one of those beams is rusted out.
Repairs started last week. A date on when the bridge will reopen was not given.
Lick Creek Road open for travel again
A portion of Lick Creek Road on the Morgan County side has reopened after crews finished a culvert replacement project last week.
The closure was about a half-mile north of the county line.
Paving with state funds yet to start
It may be another six weeks or more before crews can start paving county roads with Community Crossings grant funding.
At the July 17 Brown County Commissioners meeting, Brown County Highway Superintendent Mike Magner reported that the county had turned in all of its paperwork and that his department was waiting on the state to put the money in the bank.
He estimated it would take about six weeks to get the money.
“We were told that we could go ahead and proceed, then they would just give us the money later. I’m a little wary of doing that,” Magner said. “I’m kind of in the mindset that I would like to see the money in the bank, because I don’t have a spare million to spend in case something happens at the state level.”
The county awarded the project to Milestone. “They’re behind anyways from all of the spring rain, so they’re not in a hurry to get started anyway,’ Magner said.
Around 14 miles will be paved with the $1 million matching grant: Nineveh Road up to Beech Tree Road; all of Greasy Creek; and seven miles of Bellsville Pike.
Magner said last week crews were doing some flood repair work on Bellsville Pike to prep it for paving.
INDOT planning more projects in county
The Indiana Department of Transportation is hoping to complete two more projects on state roads 45 and 135 North this year.
Brown County Highway Superintendent Mike Magner reported last week that on July 10 INDOT had let two more projects in Brown County. Those are a culvert project on 45 near Morrison Road and a deck overlay on the bridge in Bean Blossom on 135 North just south of the Bean Blossom Animal Clinic.
The bridge on 135 North will be down to one lane as crews work on the deck overlay.
State Road 45 will be closed for the culvert repair. Railroad Road will be used as the unofficial detour for local traffic, Magner reported earlier this year.
The project only had one bidder who bid above the estimated project cost. “They (INDOT) will have to make an administrative decision on whether they go ahead and award it or not,” Magner said.
“There may be some delay there in getting those started. Hopefully they don’t have to go back and bid them again. They’re scheduled to happen yet this year. I’ll keep an eye on those.”
