County opens bridge bids, approves right‑of‑way payments and extends Oak Hill Road deadline

VANDERBURGH COUNTY, Ind. — The Vanderburgh County Board of Commissioners on June 10 opened bids for a Broadway Avenue bridge replacement, approved a utility reimbursement tied to a new bridge project, agreed to several right‑of‑way payments and granted a time extension for a federally funded road project.

The actions were taken during the commissioners’ regular meeting in the Civic Center. The board voted unanimously on each recorded roll call where votes were recorded.

Why it matters: The measures affect multiple reconstruction and resurfacing projects the county plans to build or design over the next several years. The County Engineer said approving the reimbursement and right‑of‑way payments clears legal and funding hurdles so construction can proceed.

The board opened bids for VC25-05-01, replacement of Broadway Avenue Bridge No. 274. Two sealed bids were announced on the record: Regal, Inc., $916,700.49; and Blankenburger Brothers, Inc., $1,200,800.00. The board took the bids under advisement for later completeness and compliance review.

Commissioners also noted a separate call for sealed resurfacing bids (VC25-06-01) covering resurfacing and patching on several county roads; sealed bids are to be received in the board office through 9:30 a.m. on July 15.

The board approved a reimbursement agreement with Southern Indiana Gas & Electric Company, doing business as CenterPoint Energy, to allow utility shielding where transmission lines cross Adler Road during bridge pile driving. County staff reported the figure for the reimbursement as approximately $110,002.16 and said the final amount was substantially lower than earlier estimates once documentation was gathered. “It was a struggle to get the information relative to the documentation associated with when the transmission lines came into place,” said John (engineer, Vanderburgh County Engineer’s Office). “That being said, given the circumstances, this allows us to proceed with the bridge project.”

The Oak Hill Road project (change order No. 6) received a 30‑day time extension. The extension moves the federally funded project’s completion date from Aug. 1 to Sept. 8, 2025, to account for unanticipated utility conflicts and delays. Staff said the project is bid to Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) specifications, which allow extra days when utilities delay contractors.

The board approved several right‑of‑way and settlement items tied to ongoing bridge and road projects, including: - Minute administrative settlement VC24-1212-01 (Nisbett Road small structure replacement, Parcel 1): $8,199 for M & M J Bale Farms LLC. - Right‑of‑way offers for Winberg Road Bridge No. 2430: Paul Mays, Parcel 1, $14,000; Evansville MHC LLC, Parcel 2, $1,000; BFI Waste Systems of North America LLC, Parcel 3, $2,350.

Votes at a glance: - Motion to open bids for VC25-05-01 (Broadway Ave. Bridge No. 274): moved, seconded; Commissioners Gable and Alpers voted yes. Outcome: motion passed and bids taken under advisement. - Notice to receive sealed resurfacing bids (VC25-06-01): motion to set bid deadline July 15; outcome: approved. - Reimbursement agreement with CenterPoint Energy (Adler Road transmission shielding): motion approved; outcome: approved (recorded yes votes by Commissioners Gable and Alpers). - Change order No. 6, Oak Hill Road — 30‑day extension to 09/08/2025: motion approved (recorded yes votes by Commissioners Gable and Alpers). - Minute administrative settlement VC24-1212-01 (Nisbett Road): motion approved (recorded yes votes by Commissioners Gable and Alpers). - Right‑of‑way offers for Winberg Road Bridge No. 2430 (three parcels/payments as listed above): motions approved (recorded yes votes by Commissioners Gable and Alpers).

What commissioners and staff said: Commissioner Gable and President Alpers took roll calls for the actions and voted to move the items forward. John of the engineer’s office described schedule impacts and the need to begin design work on multiple bridge projects; he noted the county has applied for federal aid and must meet INDOT requirements for ADA and Title VI updates before design can proceed.

What comes next: County staff said bids will be reviewed for completeness before a contract award is made. The Oak Hill Road extension will be reflected in the project schedule and notices to INDOT for the federal aid file.

Ending: The board took these items as part of a broader consent and action block; further administrative and legal reviews were noted for some agreements before final contract execution.