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

Comments

Add a comment

Log in to the club or enter your details below.
Rating *

Events

  • Dolly's Summer Tour

    Visit our life-sized Dolly Parton cut-out as she visits local businesses around Dearborn County promoting her Imagination Library.

  • Summer Lunch

    Free Summer Lunch

  • Friendship Flea Market

    Twice a year the Friendship Flea Market turns this quiet little 1868 town of Friendship into a busy marketplace. Almost 500 vendor spaces, open daily 9AM/9days

    at Friendship Flea Market

NWS: Severe Weather Possible Overnight

Damaging wind is the primary threat

Human Remains Found in Franklin Co. Identified

The remains were found on June 12, 2026

Street Closures Announced for Tastes of Summer

The event happens Saturday at Lawrenceburg Civic Park

On Air

Chelsie playing
Clay Walker - Then What

Dierks Bentley Somewhere on a Beach 9:21
Randy Travis Diggin' Up Bones 9:18
Jelly Roll Halfway To Hell 9:10
George Strait Love Without End, Amen 9:07