Harrison County Council approves $472,500 in bridge repairs after low bids

Harrison County Council voted to approve $472,500 in additional appropriations from the Cumulative Bridge Fund for three bridge projects after county engineers reported lower-than-expected bids.

County engineer Kevin Russel reported a low bid of $327,000 for Bridge #43 and said that 80% of that cost will be covered by Community Crossings, leaving a county share plus contingency that the council set at $98,000. "The low bid of $327,000 is under the engineer's estimate," Russel said during the meeting. Later in the agenda Russel reported a low bid of $340,475 for Bridge #37 on Turley Road; with a 10% contingency the council approved $374,500 for the combined Bridge #37 and #75 projects. Castetter moved the Bridge #43 appropriation; Gerdon seconded. Castetter later moved the appropriation for Bridge #37 and #75; Brown seconded. Both motions passed on 6–0 votes.

The council was told Bridge #75 work on Crestview Avenue will be scheduled after the school year to avoid conflict with a local baseball sectional event. An INDOT invoice for additional work on Bridge #5752 totaling $74,686 was discussed but deferred to the next meeting because of agenda time constraints.

The approvals authorize staff to proceed with the awarded contracts and to apply the county’s required share and the board-approved contingencies to the fiscal year budget.