Salem and many other southern Indiana communities and counties received their portion of $101 million in state matching funds for local road projects through the Community Crossings, a component of the Governor’s Next Level Roads program.

The City of Salem received $815,907 while Washington County didn’t receive anything. 

Mitchell and Bedford both received their own grants while Lawrence County received $1 million. 

(See the full list below). 

“As we navigate through the challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic, we’re as committed as ever to improving and building our state’s infrastructure. I’m incredibly pleased that we’re able to fund all of the high-priority local road projects submitted in this round. Taking care of our local roads is key to making sure our communities remain attractive places to grow businesses and create careers.”

The Community Crossings Initiative has provided more than $830 million in state matching funds for construction projects.

In response to revenue uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, INDOT moved this call for projects, originally scheduled for July, to September.

The $101 million awards is funded by the balance available in the state’s local road and bridge matching grant fund at the end of the 2020 fiscal year as well as revenue collected so far in the 2021 fiscal year.

“This is a tremendous win for our local partners,” INDOT Commissioner Joe McGuinness said.

“Our continued partnership with Hoosier communities will deliver more high priority local road projects in the coming year, many of which have been in planning for months or even years and wouldn’t be able to move forward now without the state’s funding commitment.”

To qualify for funding, local governments must provide local matching funds, 50 percent for larger communities or 25 percent for smaller communities, from a funding source approved for road and bridge construction. They must also submit an INDOT-approved asset management plan for maintaining existing roads and bridges. 

State law requires annually that 50 percent of the available matching funds be awarded to communities within counties with a population of 50,000 or fewer. 

State lawmakers identified long-term funding for Community Crossings as part of House Enrolled Act 1002, passed by the legislature and signed into law by Gov. Holcomb in April 2017.

The list of all communities receiving matching funds in the 2020 summer/fall call for projects is online at www.in.gov/indot/communitycrossings.

A full list of awardees: 

Traffic diverted to U.S. 31 from approximately 11 p.m. to 3 a.m.

Indiana Department of Transportation contractor E&B Paving Inc. plans to close all lanes of I-65 SB between Henryville (Exit 19) and Memphis (Exit 16) in Clark County the night of Tuesday, Dec. 15. Under the closure, crews will complete bridge repairs at Caney Fork.

The closure is expected to begin at approximately 11 p.m. Tuesday night and end by 3 a.m. Wednesday morning. All traffic will be detoured to U.S. 31 between Henryville and Memphis during this time. Local law enforcement will be on-site to assist with traffic control.

Motorists are reminded to slow down, use extra caution and drive distraction-free in and near work zones. Drivers should also allow extra time to reach their destinations due to possible delays. The full closure will be rescheduled to Wednesday, Dec. 16, if needed, due to inclement weather.