County receives grant for paving

In November, the municipalities received grant funding.

This week, the county got its share.

Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb and the Indiana Department of Transportation announced Wednesday morning that Jay County was awarded a $1.18 million Community Crossings grant for road work.

The roads set to be paved via the funding are Knox Road and county roads 100 South and 150 South, west of Indiana 1. Jay County highway superintendent Bob Howell, expressed excitement for the project, noting that it will help decrease the county’s spending on stone in the future.

“It’s going to be a good thing,” he said. “We put a lot of gravel down on those roads when … traffic is bypassing Indiana 1 due to the flooding.”

Plans are to request bids for the project soon, with the paving completed before the end of 2024.

“Now we can get the ball rolling,” said Howell.

Community Crossings grants require a 25% match, meaning Jay County will provide about $393,914 for the project.

The county initially planned to apply for Community Crossings funding to replace the Seventh Street Bridge over the Salamonie River between Blaine Pike and Meridian Street in Portland, but that project has been delayed because of issues with receiving right-of-way access for the project from an adjoining property owner.

With that effort on hold, the county shifted its attention to Knox Road and county roads 100 South and 150 South.

The grant to Jay County was part of $207 million awarded to cities, towns and counties across the state. The announcements were made at Clay County Courthouse.

“Year after year Indiana’s local Community Crossings program enables hundreds of critically important infrastructure improvements to happen,” said Holcomb in a press release. “I cannot overstate the transformative significance of this program and the positive impacts it has throughout our cities, towns and counties across the Hoosier State known as the Crossroads of America.”

In the previous round of Community Crossings funding announced in November, Redkey received $163,686.75, Portland got $153.164.10 and Dunkirk was awarded $132,093.75. Projects related to that funding — paving sections of Union Street, Mitchell, Washington and Oak streets as well as Delaware Avenue in Redkey; paving of Hart Drive, Merry Court and Shrack Lane in Dunkirk; and widespread crack sealing in Portland — will also be completed this year.

Area municipalities and counties receiving grants in this round were Adams County (1.5 million), Delaware County ($1.5 million), Muncie ($1.5 million), Randolph County ($1.07 million), Winchester ($1.04 million), Yorktown ($348,960), Blackford County ($225,858) and Saratoga ($40,316.21).

“Partnership with our local communities is vital to enhancing our state's transportation network,” said INDOT commissioner Mike Smith. “Community Crossings is just one of many ways INDOT is working with local agencies to improve safety, mobility and connectivity in the places they call home.”

Community Crossings has provided $1.7 billion in matching funds for local road improvement projects since 2016.