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Walnut Road bridge amendment adds right‑of‑way work; county to use federal funding for replacement project
Summary
The board approved Amendment No. 1 to the preliminary agreement for the Walnut Road (Bridge 29) replacement; amendment adds right‑of‑way acquisition services, increases the consultant contract by $21,980 to $335,955, and will be funded with 80% federal reimbursement.
The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners approved Amendment No. 1 to the Walnut Road over Potato Creek (Bridge 29) preliminary agreement at its Feb. 25 meeting.
Skye Metters, presenting for the county’s Department of Infrastructure Planning and Growth, said the amendment expands the project scope to include right‑of‑way acquisition, management, negotiation and recording. Those services were not included in the original preliminary agreement because staff did not anticipate purchasing right‑of‑way during initial scoping; subsequent hydraulic work increased the required bridge size and prompted limited property acquisition.
Metters said the change increases the consultant amount by $21,980, bringing the contract total to $335,955. She said the project is federally funded and that the county expects 80% federal reimbursement with a 20% local match.
“It's one of the bridges on our priority list to get replaced, based on the inspections,” Metters said. “Every time we get a chance to leverage our money against 80% federal dollars, it's always a good thing to do.”
Commissioner Hazen called the project necessary; commissioners approved the amendment by voice vote (recorded “ayes” from Commissioner Hazen, Commissioner Morton and Commissioner Maxmeier). Metters said she had spoken to the property owner and that the owner “seems to be on board.” She cautioned that construction phases can yield additional unforeseen changes, but said no other changes were anticipated at that moment.
The amendment allows the county to proceed with right‑of‑way work and keeps the project on a federal funding schedule that, for some related projects, anticipates construction in fiscal 2027.
