Staff Reports
Milestone Contractors will move State Road 46 traffic to its final configuration at the new railroad overpass on Columbus’ west side between 7 a.m. and noon today.
The last switch includes opening all three lanes across the Third Street bridge from downtown Columbus and opening a second westbound lane across the new bridge over State Road 11 through project limits.
Coming from downtown Columbus, westbound State Road 46 traffic should utilize the left two lanes to continue across the overpass. State Road 46 to southbound State Road 11 traffic should utilize the right lane.
[sc:text-divider text-divider-title=”Story continues below gallery” ]
Starting Monday, Aug. 17, crews will begin laying the final lift of asphalt for the project. Paving work is scheduled to take place at night, from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. under intermittent lane closures and is expected to be complete by the end of the month, weather permitting.
Other work will continue near the new overpass through the rest of the summer and fall into next spring, including removal of previous lanes of State Road 46, seeding, sodding and project clean-up.
Crews from Milestone Contractors have been working on the estimated $35 million project that is being jointly funded by the Indiana Department of Transportation, city of Columbus, Bartholomew County, Cummins Inc. and the Louisville & Indiana and CSX railroads.
The overpass project was developed in response to a projected increase in railroad traffic on the Louisville & Indiana Railroad tracks. INDOT has agreed to pick up half of the total cost, while the city, along with other partners, pick up the half of the tab.
The railroad has leased its tracks running through Columbus to CSX, which is expected to result in an increase in train traffic, train speed and delays at intersections involving rail crossings through the city, with the State Road 46/State Road 11 intersection expected to have the most delayed local traffic.
The city has partnered with Cummins, Bartholomew County and the Louisville & Indiana and CSX Railroads to defray around half of the local funding requirements in the interlocal agreement, city officials said.
A groundbreaking ceremony for the project was held in November.
Motorists are reminded to slow down, use extra caution and drive distraction-free through all work zones, especially as drivers adjust to new traffic patterns.
[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”Where to learn more” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
Visit columbusrailroadproject.org for more information about the project.
[sc:pullout-text-end]
