Paving approved

Portland, Dunkirk and Bryant are set to have a combined more than a half of a million dollars in roadwork coming soon.

The Indiana Department of Transportation announced Tuesday that a new round of Community Crossing grants totaling $475,612 were awarded to Jay County municipalities.

“To get two Community Crossing grants in one year, that’s just about unheard of,” said Dunkirk Mayor Jack Robbins, noting the oddity of the state rolling out two rounds of the grant program in one year.

Portland, Dunkirk Redkey and Jay County were awarded a combined $2.19 million in Community Crossings grants in April.

Work isn’t as encompassing this time around with Dunkirk being awarded $161,564.25 for its roads and INDOT providing $220,155.75 to Portland to revamp some of its streets.

Bryant was also awarded $93,892.50 to pave Main Street east of Hendricks Street (U.S. 27). Like Portland and Dunkirk, it will pay 25% — about $30,984 — of any project associated with the grant program, with INDOT paying for the rest. (Final local match amounts are contingent on project bids.)

Portland recently overhauled its long-term priority list for roads to be paved in the order of greatest need, Portland Mayor John Boggs said.

“We’re very excited,” Boggs said, adding that the city plans to apply for the next round of Community Crossing grants in January.

“If we keep it up … in 3 or 4 years, every street in Portland will be affected,” Boggs said.

The following streets in Portland are set to be paved as a result of this round of Community Crossing grants:

•Sections of Alexander Street between Race and Arch streets and High and Walnut streets

•Second Street between Middle Street and Western Avenue

•Massachusetts Avenue between Boundary Pike and Seventh Street

•Garfield Street between High and Walnut streets

•Hawkins Avenue in its entirety

•Olson Lane in its entirety

•Bridge Street from its bridge to Third Street

Portland is set to pay $72,651.40 for the project.

Dunkirk will have Moore Avenue, Walsh Court and Ellis and Layne drives paved in their entirety. The city is budgeted to pay about $53,316.20 for the roadwork.

“We’ll be ahead of the game a little bit,” Robbins said. He added the city will likely not bid for another round of Community Crossing grants next year.

Bids for the first round of Community Crossing funded roadwork came well under-budget for both Dunkirk and Portland this summer.

Brooks Construction of Fort Wayne was hired by the city to pave Dunkirk six streets for $265,754, about 68% of the estimated cost. Paved roads included parts of Indiana, Chestnut, Center, North, Railroad and Franklin streets.

Milestone Contractors paved nine Portland streets this summer for $648,850, less than 72% of the estimated cost of $932,852. Paved roads included parts of Boston, Arch, Glen, Hayes, Main, Middle, High and Race streets and Green Park Drive.

As with any Community Crossing grant project, the 75-25 split remains regardless of how low the bid for the project is and additional roads cannot be added after INDOT announces its preliminary grant awards.