By FRED SWIFT
The County Line
Work should begin in about two months on the long-awaited Pleasant Street bridge over the White River. The new span is the vital link in the new Pleasant Street east-west corridor in Noblesville.
Beatty Construction Company won the bid to build Phase I of the three-phased project. Phase I totals $38.5 million, with the new bridge costing $15.5 million. Hamilton County will pay for the bridge over the White River as its portion of the joint county-city project, Noblesville will pay for the roadway and trail.
The county is responsible for all major bridges and has the money with its Major Bridge Fund, according to highway director Brad Davis. County commissioners gave their approval in a meeting Monday.
Noblesville City Engineer Alison Krupski said work should begin in about two months, and by the end of November 2024 traffic will be able to use the new bridge.
In other action, commissioners were told another bridge project will be ready for a January 2023 bid letting. The Bell Ford Bridge is a very different type of project in that it involves re-assembling of a historic covered bridge.
The 143-year-old wooden structure originally spanned White River in Jackson County. It was taken apart, brought to Hamilton County, and will be reconstructed over Fall Creek just west of Florida Road as part of a park department trail for pedestrians and bikers.
Commissioners also gave approval for clearing several houses previously purchased by the county at the intersection of 146th Street and Allisonville Road. The removal of the structures will allow for construction of a major intersection improvement set to start next year, according to commissioners.
The new interchange will allow 146th Street traffic to pass over Allisonville with a roundabout beneath for access to each roadway. The cost of the improvements will depend on bids to be received in the next few months. Clearing of the needed right-of-way will be underway this fall and winter.
Finally, commissioners Monday received bids for creating two new magistrate courts at the county judicial center. They will be built where the county computer department (ISS) is now located. The ISS will be moved to the basement.
Bids were referred to Building and Grounds Director Steve Wood for review and recommendation at an October meeting.