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

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.  

More from Local News


Events

Track Chairs to Increase Access to Nature at Every Indiana State Park

45 new track chairs make Indiana a national leader in accessibility at state parks

Tickets Available for Clearinghouse Hunger Awareness Gala

The event takes place April 24 at the Liberty Theater.

Cooper Archer Makes History, Jags Place 10th at State Bullseye Tournament

Several NKY schools qualified for the Eastern Nationals.

IBCA Announces Academic All-State Teams

Individual and team recognition.

SEI Trio Named to South All-Star Team

The annual Murat Shrine North-South All-Star Football Classic is set for July 10.

On Air

Rick Bernius playing
Florida Georgia Line - Round Here

Fox News Fox News National Newscast 16:59
Jimmie Allen Make Me Want To 16:56
Scotty McCreery and Hootie & The Blowfish Bottle Rockets 16:52
Tracy Lawrence Lessons Learned 16:47