Engineering firm HWC pitches countywide bridge inspection, offers on-call help and funding guidance

An Indianapolis-based engineering firm told Owen County commissioners and staff it will submit for the countywide bridge inspection work and offered on-call inspection services and funding help.

Laurie Christie, John Lukak and Jacob Eisenberg of HWC introduced themselves and explained the firm’s bridge inspection, structural design and funding experience. Jacob Eisenberg described his role as structural department manager and noted HWC’s multidisciplinary capabilities including transportation, water and economic development.

HWC representatives said they have worked with other Indiana counties on bridge inventories, bridge inspections and road safety audits that helped those counties qualify for additional funding. They offered to submit a letter of interest and noted that on-call, hourly work could support urgent inspection needs (for example after the spring floods) until a formal INDOT-funded bridge inspection contract is negotiated.

Commissioners and highway staff discussed timing and compliance: INDOT requires completion of the county bridge inventory/inspection on a schedule, and one HWC representative said the county must complete inspection work by November for INDOT compliance. HWC said a federally funded countywide bridge inspection uses negotiated contract procedures overseen by INDOT; on-call hourly agreements can be used in advance of that procurement.

HWC also said it will look for funding and grant options and help the county prepare applications if projects are identified during the inventory and inspection process.

Ending: Commissioners thanked the firm and said they welcome multiple qualified firms for the countywide bridge inspection RFP; the firm plans to submit its LOI and attend procurement steps as appropriate.