NEW ALBANY, Ind.—The Indiana Department of Transportation is accelerating corrective measures to restore proper water flow through a 975-foot-long steel pipe that parallels Interstate 64 at New Albany.

INDOT hydraulics engineers determined the oval pipe—which measures 13 feet in diameter—has collapsed approximately 60 feet from the end where water exits.  Full extent of the damage will not be known until the pipe is unearthed.

Crews and equipment will be onsite next week as soon as weather conditions allow.

Late last month amid heavy rains, the City of New Albany contracted an excavation company to take initial action to correct water flow at the pipe.  After INDOT determined responsibility for the structure —which is located 30 feet outside established state right-of-way—an accelerated schedule for remediation was implemented.

Officials say next week’s mobilization is Step 1 in what could be several phases of restoration.

The jumbo pipe was put in place in the 1960s to redirect meandering Valley View Creek outside the footprint for I-64 construction.  Length of the original pipe was extended in the mid-1970s.

Stay informed.  Updated information and a map of the closure are available on the Indiana Department of Transportation TrafficWise service at indot.carsprogram.org. Roadway information is also available by calling 1-800-261-ROAD (7623) or 511 from a mobile phone.  Follow @INDOTSoutheast on Twitter at www.twitter.com/INDOTSoutheast and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/INDOTSoutheast.

Subscribe to receive text and email alerts about INDOT projects in your county athttps://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/INDOT/subscriber/new.

Duke Energy is seeing an increase in reports from customers statewide about a utility bill payment scam and is urging its Indiana customers to be alert.

Under the scam, a customer receives an unsolicited phone call from an individual who falsely claims to be a Duke Energy representative.

The caller falsely warns that Duke Energy will disconnect the customer’s electric service if the customer fails to make an immediate payment – usually within one hour.

The caller instructs the customer to purchase a prepaid debit card – widely available at retail stores – then tells the customer to call back to supposedly make a payment to Duke Energy.

The caller asks the customer for the prepaid debit card’s receipt number and PIN number, giving the caller instant access to the card’s funds and the ability to immediately drain its balance.

“The scammers have become more sophisticated and the caller ID on your phone might even state that it is a call from Duke Energy,” said Jim Holstein, manager of Duke Energy’s Midwest Call Center Operations. “In reality, Duke Energy never asks or requires customers who have delinquent accounts to purchase a prepaid debit card to avoid electric service disconnection.”

Customers can make payments online, by phone, by automatic bank draft, by mail or in person.

Duke Energy customers who have delinquent accounts receive an advance disconnect notification with their regular monthly billing – never just a single notification one hour before disconnection.

The company urges customers who suspect or experience fraud to hang up and call local police, then call Duke Energy in Indiana at 1-800-521-2232. Customers should not use the telephone number provided by the scammer.

Duke Energy Indiana’s operations provide about 7,500 megawatts of owned electric capacity to approximately 810,000 customers in a 23,000-square-mile service area, making it the state’s largest electric supplier.