Major east-west thoroughfare in Monroe County to be completed in August. What you need to know.

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3 days ago

An east-west thoroughfare that includes a new 500-foot bridge is scheduled to be completed in early August, though an unexpected amount of rock removal is making the project more expensive than expected. Here's what you need to know.
What's the thoroughfare that's being completed?
It's the long-planned connection between West Gordon and West Fullerton Pike.
When will the Fullerton Pike project be finished?
Lisa Ridge, director of the Monroe County Highway Department, said via email she expects the project to be largely completed by Aug. 4, just before classes start for Monroe County Community School Corp.
'We are meeting weekly on this project due to the time crunch,' she said.
What else does the project include?
The roundabout at the Batchelor/Clear View/Gordon Pike intersection.
A raised median measuring between 6 and 10 feet.
A 10-foot multi-use path on the north side.
A 5-foot sidewalk on the south side.
Will work at the roundabout be completed in time for the start of school?
'We expect most of the roundabout to be completed, but there will still need to be some work on the west portion of it after it opens,' Ridge said. 'Opening it to the library and school is the main focus.'
How much will the project cost?
Ridge said total cost has risen to $19.5 million, in part because of an additional $481,000 in unexpected expenses related to rock removal.
Construction crews ran into more rocky terrain than they expected. Ridge said removing rock, rather than soil, is more difficult and expensive because rocks have to be broken before they are hauled away.
Ridge said crews excavated 9,165 cubic yards of rock, or nearly five times as much as expected when the project began.
Local officials in 2023 estimated construction costs near $17 million, though Ridge raised concerns at the time about inflation pushing bids so much higher that the project might have to be simplified.
Who is paying the additional dollars for the rock removal?
The county.
Commissioners approved the expenditure last week. Ridge said she has asked the Indiana Department of Transportation to cover 80% of that extra cost, but said Tuesday 'there is no extra funding' at this time.
The county may use funds from its major bridge fund, which contains about $10 million, though that also is earmarked to pay for bridge replacements on Dillman and Mount Tabor roads and to help pay the debt on the Fullerton Pike extension.
Who is paying for the total project?
The project is being paid mostly with local funds, including $8 million the highway department borrowed, additional funds from the local road and street fund and about $3 million in federal dollars.
Why did local officials pursue the project?
Local officials have discussed the connector for more than 30 years, and they have said they hope it will provide easier access to and from Interstate 69 and spur development in that area.
Many people currently use I-69 and the Ind. 45/46 Bypass to get from east to west. The new connector would give them a direct east-west route.
Ridge also has said the project will make it much easier for people to head from the city's southwest side into Bloomington, including to Batchelor Middle School and the southwest branch of the public library. In the other direction, residents will be able to more easily access Monroe Hospital, Leonard Springs Nature Park and neighborhoods west of I-69.
What are local officials saying about the project nearing completion?
Monroe County Commissioner Julie Thomas said, "We are grateful to the area residents for their patience and their input throughout this process."
Thomas thanked Ridge and the highway department for making sure the work is completed before the school year begins.
Ridge said she is "thrilled" to see the project coming to fruition.
"When I took this position in 2015 Fullerton Pike Phase I was getting ready to be built, so seeing it to the end and (making) the final connection to (Interstate 69) is something I'm very proud of that I was able to get it constructed and funded," she said.
Boris Ladwig can be reached at [e-mail].
This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Major east-west thoroughfare in Monroe County to be completed in August
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