The Indiana Department of Transportation announces that the State Road 37 Project in Mitchell is running ahead of schedule.

Phase one of the project to restore the concrete pavement from S.R. 60 to U.S. 50 is officially a week ahead of schedule.

Crews were originally expected to wrap up and the beginning of August, but with good weather, the work has been able to move more quickly.

Phase two will begin on or around Monday, July 22 as crews will mirror the current lane closures, with the northbound lanes reopening.

The new traffic patterns will see southbound 37 closed with two-way traffic on the northbound side. Lanes will be restricted to a width of 11 feet.

Restrictions will be in place around the clock. Work on phase two is scheduled to be complete by the end of October, depending upon weather conditions. 

INDOT urges drivers to slow down and stay alert near crews.

A traffic switch is scheduled to begin tonight as part of the I-65 reconstruction project in Bartholomew and Jackson Counties.

E&B Paving Inc. will switch traffic on I-65 SB beginning at MM 53.7 to MM 50, south of the East Fork White River bridge in Jackson County, the evening of Sunday, July 21, weather permitting.

Southbound traffic will move to the newly constructed concrete pavement on the northbound side of I-65 until new southbound lanes are constructed.

Motorists should continue to exercise caution in the ongoing construction zone between Columbus and Seymour.

Two open houses will be held this week, one in New Albany and one in Louisville, to share updated information about the Sherman Minton Renewal Project. The Project Team will present options for traffic management during construction, answer questions and gather public feedback. Anyone who has an interest in the project is encouraged to attend.

The meetings will be held on:

Tuesday, July 23
Chestnut Street Family YMCA
930 W. Chestnut St.
Louisville, KY
5:30 – 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, July 25
The Calumet Club
1614 East Spring Street
New Albany, IN
5:30 – 7:30 p.m.

The Sherman Minton Renewal Project is a $90+ million bridge rehabilitation and painting project that will significantly extend the service life of the 56-year-old bridge. The double-decked bridge carries six lanes of traffic (I-64 and US 150) over the Ohio River connecting Louisville, KY and New Albany, IN.

Each open house will include a presentation from the Project Team at 6:00 p.m. The rest of the event is an open house format with multiple information stations. Attendees will have a chance to talk one-on-one with leaders of the Sherman Minton Renewal Project team, hear more about the project and ask questions.

The Sherman Minton Renewal Project is an extensive bi-state rehabilitation project that will add an estimated 30 years of additional service life to the 56-year-old bridge. The Sherman Minton Bridge, the first interstate bridge over the Ohio in Louisville, still has its original concrete deck. The bridge opened to traffic in 1962.

Lane restrictions would allow for maintaining some traffic across the bridge during construction, but would create traffic delays, extend the project timeline and increase costs. A full closure of the bridge would provide full access for construction and reduce the timeline and costs, but would force vehicles onto another route. A combination of maintenance of traffic options is likely to be used.

The Project Team is charged with identifying the best approach to construction. Multiple options are being explored and no decisions have been made. The Project Team wants input from members of the community. Comment cards will be provided.

The project includes replacement or refurbishment of all bridge decks, rehabilitation or replacement of structural steel elements and hanger cables, new lighting, drainage repairs and painting of steel components of the main river crossing and Kentucky approaches. The double-decked bridge carries almost 90,000 vehicles daily.

Last summer INDOT initiated the environmental study, as required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The study is required for all federally-funded projects. It will include an analysis of the temporary impacts of the project and consideration of ways to avoid, minimize or mitigate those impacts.

A recommendation on the construction approach is expected fall 2019. After approval of the environmental study by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) will procure a design-build contractor to perform the rehabilitation and painting of the bridge.

This is a design-build best value project, which means price is not the only criteria that will determine which team is selected. The project delivery method invites innovative solutions that will help reduce construction time and impacts to the public.

Construction is expected to begin in early 2021 and take two to three years to complete, depending on the final scope of the work and the approach to construction and restrictions/closures.

Kentucky and Indiana will share in the cost of the work. The $90+ million project is fully funded through federal and state highway funds. There are no plans to toll the Sherman Minton Bridge.

At approximately 2:03 p.m. Friday an unknown white male walked into the Stock Yard Bank at 275 N. US Hwy 31 in Austin, Indiana, displayed a handgun and demanded money. 

The male is described as approximately 30-40 years of age and approximately 5 foot 10 inches.

He was armed with a black semi-automatic handgun and was wearing a gray Indiana Hoosier ball cap along with mirrored sunglasses, a blue t-shirt, and blue pants. 

The suspect was also observed walking around outside the bank just prior to the robbery.

If anyone has information, which could aid in identifying the suspect, please contact the Indiana State Policepost in Sellersburg at 812-246-5424.