The state is adding $5 million to its original cost estimate for Columbus’ railroad overpass over the State Road 46 and State Road 11 crossing on Columbus’ west side, bringing the total to more than $35 million.
Columbus Board of Public Works and Safety members signed an amendment to an interlocal agreement between the Indiana Department of Transportation and the city of Columbus on Tuesday which raised the estimated cost of the project from $30 million to $35,324,010. The state is paying 50 percent and the city, with partners including Bartholomew County and the railroad, responsible for the rest.
Bartholomew County is paying $1.5 million for the overpass with another $500,000 to be paid over a two-year period. The city’s share will include $4 million from Central TIF District funds, while other funding sources include about $5.5 million from the Cummins Engine Plant TIF District funds, up to $2.5 million in state or federal highway programs along with cost savings and $1.5 million from CSX and Louisville & Indiana Railroads.
Dave Hayward, Columbus’ executive director of public works and city engineer, said the increase accounts for right-of-way acquisition costs that were higher than predicted and increased construction costs. The city is paying for its share using TIF dollars provided by the Columbus Redevelopment Commission.
The $35.3 million cost is only an estimate. INDOT and the city won’t know how much the project will actually cost until INDOT opens construction bids for the project on Oct. 9.
“I’m still very hopeful the bids will run less than that amount and we’ll get some relief,” Hayward said.
For more on this story, see Wednesday’s Republic.
