Higher Than Expected Cost Cancels St. Mary's Road Rehab Project

Tuesday, April 9, 2019 at 8:19 AM

By Mike Perleberg @mikedup84

Franklin County Commissioners voted April 1 to cancel various improvements for St. Mary's Road.

(Franklin County, Ind.) - Franklin County motorists will have to put up with the deterioration of St. Mary’s Road for the foreseeable future.

Franklin County Commissioners have slammed the brakes on a project to make repairs to the road near Brookville. The St. Mary’s Road project would have included slide stabilization, new guardrails, pavement, and a bridge replacement.

The Franklin County Observer newsletter reports commissioners got word from the Indiana Department of Transportation that the cost of the project has almost doubled from $1.2 million, up to $2.3 million. However, federal funding for the project has not increased.

The county would be on the hook for the additional $1.1 million from the price increase. Commissioners voted to cancel the project for now.

Commissioner Tom Linkel cited two reasons for the increase, per The Observer. The county’s former engineer underestimated the cost several years ago when the county applied for federal funding. Also, since the grant was awarded in 2017, contractors have raised their prices to cover higher labor costs due to a shortage of workers.

Comments

Add a comment

Display Name *

Location *

Email Address *

Comment *

Rating *

I have read and agreed to the privacy policy and terms & conditions *

Facebook

Crunch Time

Events

Motor Meet Cruise-in; Rising Sun, IN
Ohio County Tourism hosts the first of two cruise-ins on Friday, May 15, 2026, on Main St. in Rising Sun. 5-8pm. All wheels, all styles, all welcome. Free
May 15, 2026 at Main & Poplar Streets, Downtown Rising Sun
Plant and Seed Swap
Join us for a delightful community event this May - a free Plant and Seed Swap! Bring your surplus plants, seeds, and gardening tools to exchange.
May 16, 2026 at Lawrenceburg Public Library
Barks & Books
Sit. Stay. Read! Dogs make great listeners, and reading out loud to them can improve reading comprehension and confidence.
May 16, 2026 at Lawrenceburg Public Library

Gensis: Pathways to Success Announces 2026 Summer Interns

Pictured: Owen Eldridge, Renee’ Lecher, Kate Weber, and Josie Wolfe.

Batesville Freshman's Work in BCEF’S Art on Main

The BHS mural will be on display until the fall, when a new art series will begin for the 2026-27 school year.

One Dearborn 2025 Annual Report Highlights a Year of Growth for Dearborn County

The report showcases two major business attraction wins, continued progress on Stellar Pathways and READI 2.0 projects, and organizational growth that positions the county for a strong 2026 and beyond.