The Indiana Department of Transportation will host a public hearing on Wednesday, July 29, 2020, at 6:00 pm in the CW Mount Community Center & Banquet Facility, 341 West Jefferson Street, Tipton, Indiana 46072.
Prior to the official public hearing, the meeting room will be open for a project open house from 5:00-6:00 pm. Following the public hearing, a second project open house will occur from 6:30-7:00 pm.
The public hearing will adhere to State of Indiana Department of Health (ISDH) health and safety guidelines including face coverings, implementing social distancing practices and providing hand sanitizer. Attendees are encouraged to adhere to ISDH guidelines and safety protocols.
The purpose of the public hearing is to offer all interested persons an opportunity to comment on the environmental document and the preliminary design plans for the US 31 over the Norfolk Southern Railroad Grade Separation Project. This project is being developed using federal and state funds.
The purpose of this project is to improve the flow of traffic on US 31 across the Norfolk Southern Railroad, reduce traffic disruptions for those traveling on US 31 and to reduce vehicle collisions.
The need for this project stems from the frequency of traffic disruptions, the number of individuals impacted daily by the train crossing, and a history of vehicle collisions. Approximately seven trains utilize the existing rail facilities each day crossing this segment of US 31.
The train crossing stops traffic flow increasing the potential for vehicle collisions and results in delayed travel times.
The Indiana Department of Transportation proposes to construct single-span twin structures carrying US 31 over County Road 100 South and the existing Norfolk Southern Railroad. The project limits are approximately 5,940 feet in length.
The project begins 1,850 feet south of the Norfolk Southern Railroad and extends 4,120 feet north of the Norfolk Southern Railroad (to compensate for poor soil conditions).
The proposed structures will be single-span twin bridges with a 44.5-foot out-to-out coping width and 41.58-foot clear roadway. The bridge cross-section consists of two 12.0 foot travel lanes and varying-width shoulders with a minimum width of 5.67 feet to the inside and 11.67 feet to the outside. F shaped truck height (Type FT) bridge railing is warranted along each coping.
The structures will provide a 23-foot minimum vertical clearance over the railroad tracks and a 14.5-foot minimum vertical clearance over County Road 100 South.
The proposed structures will consist of a 120-foot span from the centerline of bent to the centerline of bent. MSE walls will be constructed to retain the proposed embankments. Additional details will be presented during the public hearing and also made available via the INDOT website.
Federal and state funds are proposed to be used for the construction of this project. INDOT and the Federal Highway Administration have agreed that this project poses minimal impact to the natural environment.
A Categorical Exclusion (CE) environmental document has been prepared for the project.
The environmental documentation and preliminary design information are available to view via the Greenfield District webpage https://www.in.gov/indot/2704.
Public statements for the record will be taken as part of the public hearing procedure. All verbal statements recorded during the public hearing and all written comments submitted prior to, during, and for a period of two (2) weeks following the hearing date, will be evaluated, considered, and addressed in subsequent environmental documentation. Written comments may be submitted prior to the public hearing and within the comment period to United Consulting, Room 848, 8440 Allison Pointe Boulevard Suite 200, Indianapolis, IN 46250.
E-Mail: mike.oliphant@ucindy.com. INDOT respectfully requests comments be submitted by August 14, 2020.
With advance notice, INDOT will provide accommodations for persons with disabilities with regards to participation and access to project information as part of the hearings process including arranging auxiliary aids, interpretation services for the hearing impaired, services for the sight-impaired and other services as needed.
In addition, INDOT will provide accommodations for persons of Limited English Proficiency (LEP) requiring auxiliary aids including language interpretation services and document conversion. Should accommodations be required, please contact Rickie Clark, INDOT Public Involvement (317) 232-6601.
