Commissioners approve up to $50,000 for survey and engineering work on Thousand West road

Warren County commissioners voted to authorize up to $50,000 from the Jordan Creek economic‑development fund for survey and engineering work on Thousand West (from 600 North to U.S. 26), a preliminary step county staff and consultants said is necessary before designing drainage, base widening and other improvements.

Consultants recommended a 12‑inch base with additional drainage work; staff said preliminary core samples have been done but that survey and design work is needed to produce final engineering plans and cost estimates. Staff and commissioners discussed a preliminary cost range for construction — staff estimated the road work could be roughly $1 million, while survey and design work could run in the low‑hundreds of thousands — and noted that overbuilding the base now could reduce recurring maintenance costs later.

Commissioners approved the expenditure and asked staff to invite engineering partners to work with county staff, including possible support from Purdue/LTAP or HWC, to complete survey, drainage analysis and design. The motion to approve up to $50,000 for surveying carried on a voice vote.