Dubois County outlines road closures, paving, bridge and solar project coordination

Highway Superintendent Donnie Lueken and Highway Engineer Levi Leffert updated the commissioners on several transportation projects and coordination items on Aug. 4, 2025.

Lueken said Hickory Grove Road will close beginning Aug. 6 for a bridge replacement about 200 feet north of State Road 56; the closure is expected to last about 2½ to 3 weeks. The Club Road box culvert replacement is complete and the road was scheduled to reopen Aug. 5.

Leffert reported that paving by contractor Calcar is planned on Old Road 45 and 600 N this week, with remaining paving projects to be completed in September–October. He is evaluating eligibility to apply for INDOT’s Community Crossings fall call after receiving the spring maximum earlier.

On larger projects, preliminary plans for Lady Bridge #78 were completed by American StructurePoint with a construction estimate of about $680,000; Leffert said the work cannot be completed in-house and he will seek funding this fall and plan for a late-fall letting and early‑2026 construction start.

Leffert also noted preliminary conversations with the City of Jasper about potential improvements to an 850-foot section of Portersville Road tied to the proposed Jasper wastewater treatment plant, with the city expected to cover costs if work proceeds. He has a scheduled Aug. 19 meeting with Crossvine Solar management to discuss road-use agreements, communications and expectations related to the Crossvine Solar project.

Lueken raised a culvert issue on CR 750 W near a coal mine reclamation site where silt is causing about four feet of water backup; he will meet Michael Costello and coordinate with the DNR to resolve ditch cleaning before replacement work.

No formal votes were taken on these items; staff will return with funding requests or evaluations as projects proceed.