Johnson County commissioners voted Oct. 27 to authorize support letters for two roadway funding applications: a Community Crossings grant for improvements on Smokey Row Road (600 North) and a federal funding application submitted by the city of Franklin for the Hurleywood Drive/Hurricane Road intersection.

Daniel Johnson, the county's highway engineer, said the Smokey Row segment runs about 2 miles from Morgantown Road east to State Road 135 and that the county's preliminary estimate for the project is approximately $1.7 million. Johnson said that, under the county's calculation, the project cost would be roughly split 50/50 between the county and the Indiana Department of Transportation if awarded. He also said recent state-level changes reduced the Community Crossings program's annual cap from about $250 million to $100 million and lowered individual award limits to $1 million, making the program more competitive.

Luke Masten, highway supervisor, asked commissioners to approve a letter of support for Franklin's federal funding application for the Hurleywood/Hurricane intersection. The presentation noted two possible design concepts for that intersection, including a "peanut"-shaped roundabout. Masten said the peanut option generally requires less right-of-way acquisition and estimated it would be about $200,000 less than a conventional roundabout; the normal roundabout estimate cited in the discussion was about $3.435 million and the peanut alternative a bit lower.

Commissioners approved both letters by voice vote.

What was not specified: The transcript did not include the finalized cost estimates or the final application materials; it did not record a roll-call vote tally.

Speakers quoted: Daniel Johnson, highway engineer, described funding reductions in the Community Crossings program; Luke Masten, highway supervisor, described the peanut-shaped roundabout as requiring "less right of way acquisition."