Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) officials recently met with contractor representatives
to discuss lane restrictions and highway closures in Johnson County. The restrictions and closures are needed in order to do bridge work this summer.
INDOT Spokesman Harry Maginity says that RAM Construction is the state’s contractor for a $464,722 bridge preservation project that will install new deck overlays, as well as make repairs at these four structures:
• Twin bridges on U.S. Highway 31 at Big Blue River—located 0.29 miles south of S.R. 252
• S.R. 252 bridge at Big Blue River—located 0.52 miles east of U.S. 31
• S.R. 44 bridge at Prong Stotts Creek—located 0.11 miles west of S.R. 135
Maginity says that the U.S. 31 bridges are four-span reinforced concrete arch structures measuring 39 feet in length with 36 feet of clear roadway side to side. He says that bridge traffic will be restricted to a single lane as crews work in the adjacent lane. INDOT says that this work is scheduled to take place in early August and will affect nearly 6,500 vehicles per day.
Maginity says that the State Road 252 bridge at the Big Blue River is a five-span continuous steel beam structure measuring 38.5 feet in length with 36 feet of clear roadway side-to-side. He notes that the work at this location will require a 14-day closure, with work scheduled to begin around September 1st. INDOT says that 4,230 vehicles travel this bridge every day.
Maginity says that the State Road 44 bridge at Prong Stotts Creek is a three-span continuous reinforced concrete slab structure measuring 46 feet in length with 41 feet of clear roadway side-to-side. He says that the work at this bridge also requires a 14-day closure and is expected to begin around September 1st. INDOT says that the traffic count for this bridge is 1,600 vehicles per day.