Bottom Road bridge project receives state funding

Nov. 19--A bridge on Bottom Road will be reconstructed with recently awarded state dollars.

Monroe County was among 283 Indiana cities, towns and counties to receive funding through the Community Crossings grant program.

The county was awarded $330,000 to put toward the Bottom Road bridge project.

"We have to plan years in advance to be able to fund some of these bridge projects," Monroe County Public Works Director Lisa Ridge said. "Being able to share the cost of this bridge project entitles the county to allocate and start planning the next bridge project, which is a great investment for the traveling public."

Ridge said reconstruction of the Bottom Road bridge is part of the county's 5-year bridge plan. Along with reconstructing the bridge, the project will also raise the roadway south of the bridge approximately 700 feet to address flooding issues in the area.

Ridge said the project is expected to be completed in 2019.

This is the third year Monroe County has received funding from the state-monitored grant program. The county has received a total of $1.52 million for such projects, including the reconstruction of the Country Club Bridge that was closed earlier this year. The funding has also resulted in the paving of approximately 14 miles of county roadway over the past three years, Ridge said.

According to an Indiana Department of Transportation press release, 444 communities applied for funding. This year, around $100 million was awarded through the Community Crossings program.

Reach Ernest Rollins at 812-331-4357

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