More roads across the cities and through the neighborhoods of Johnson County are going to be improved for drivers with money from the state.
Bargersville, Edinburgh, Franklin, Greenwood and Whiteland were awarded Community Crossings grants from the state to reconstruct and repave roads that had deteriorated throughout the communities.
In total, the five communities were awarded $3.6 million. Smaller communities with fewer than 10,000 people such as Edinburgh and Bargersville are required to put in 25 percent of a project’s cost with the state’s 75 percent grant, while larger cities such Franklin were required to match the state’s grant.
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The community crossings grant program was started in 2016 by the Indiana Department of Transportation and is funded with tax dollars. Across the state this year, 283 communities were awarded more than $100 million.
Bargersville
Despite being one of the smaller Johnson County communities with about 7,500 residents, Bargersville received a grant award of $936,750, greater than the award for Indianapolis.
The town submitted seven applications, and was approved for six projects, said IXOYE Civil Engineering President Roy Carlsgaard, who is working as a consultant for the town. Construction could start in the spring.
The projects are as follows:
Milling and paving on County Road 144 from Short Street and East Harriman Avenue to 1,150 feet northwest of Schoolhouse Lane
Paving and concrete work on all streets in the Tremont subdivision
Tearing out and replacement of pavement along South Baldwin Street
Spot repairs and concrete work on Al Mar Court and Al Mar Drive
Patching and milling overlay on Schoolhouse Lane from County Road 144 to Eastview Drive.
Edinburgh
In Edinburgh, $723,044 from the state is going to be used to rebuild East Main Cross Street, including sidewalks, curbs and gutters, Town Manager Wade Watson said.
“It’s going to be a complete rebuild from virgin soil to finished pavement,” Watson said.
Phase 1, from Kyle to Clay streets, will be completed this year, Watson said. The next phase of work is from Clay Street to Harrold Drive.
Watson said since money was spent by the town to begin Phase 1 in September, those expenses went toward the community match on the grant.
The next phase of construction will take place in 2019.
Franklin
Franklin had asked the state for $1 million and was awarded $281,068.
City Engineer Mark Richards said the city submitted 17 applications but only received funding for one of them. He said he is unsure of why the others were rejected, but the project that was funded was the city’s highest priority.
The work will cover projects on five streets in the city.
Mill and overlay work will be done on the following streets:
Commerce Drive between Graham Road and U.S. 31
Westview Drive between Commons Way and the bridge crossing Canary Ditch
South Street between Main Street and U.S. 31.
On Simon Road, a drainage problem will be resolved. In the Northpoint subdivision, concrete work is being done and on Bertram Parkway just south of State Road 44, a problem with the transition grade will be fixed.
Greenwood
Greenwood will use the funds from the grant solely for future projects.
Greenwood will receive $842,847 from the state, the amount the city requested. The money will fund three similar projects involving rebuilding roads.
One project is on Rosengarten Drive, Corn Tassle Row and Keyhole Cove in a subdivision just off County Line Road.
The city will also reconstruct Wooddale Terrace in the Auburn Place neighborhood. Honey Creek Road is also being rebuilt from Smokey Row Road to Stones Crossing Road.
Whiteland
Whiteland asked for $1 million from the state and was awarded $897,958.
Past Community Crossing grants awarded to Whiteland have largely been used to fund paving in residential areas, as will this year’s funds. But other projects will include work on Tracy Road, Graham Road, Paul Hand Boulevard and Whiteland Road.
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Community Crossings award amounts:
Bargersville: $936,750
Edinburgh: $723,044
Franklin: $281,068
Greenwood: $842,847
Whiteland: $897,958
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