Another step has been taken toward what will eventually become one of the more expensive county bridge projects in local history.
In recent years, the Bartholomew County Commissioners have sought federal funding to pay for 80% of the cost to replace the 61-year-old Lowell Bridge northwest of Columbus. With the exception of Southern Crossing, the 420-foot long Lowell Bridge is considered the longest county-owned bridge.
Cost estimates on a new river crossing near Lowell Road and County Road 325W were running at about a $2.5 million project a few years ago, according to news accounts.
In 2018, the project had to take a back seat to the completion of a far more expensive State Road 46/State Road 11 overpass that was completed in late September.
On Nov. 2, the commissioners approved a $54,400 contract with United Consulting Engineers to study the west approach to the Lowell Bridge.
The Indianapolis firm will provide three different proposals for approaches for westbound traffic coming from the direction of U.S. 31 across the new structure, county highway engineer Danny Hollander said. Proposals will compare costs, as well as outline possible problems and delays, that will allow the commissioners to make informed decisions, he said.
For over five years, efforts have been gradually made to transform the Lowell Road/County Road 325W route into an overpass that links U.S. 31 to the north and State Road 46 to the south.
One reason is that for every 100 westbound cars and trucks that come across Lowell Bridge, up to 95% will turn south onto County Road 325W in order to get to State Road 46, county commissioner Larry Kleinhenz said.
“We’d like to see it so that a majority of the traffic can continue without stopping,” Kleinhenz said. “We’d like to see just one of those traffic directions have to stop — and not the one with the most people.”
The new Lowell Bridge will be erected in a different place from its current location so that traffic can continue to use the existing bridge while the new Driftwood River crossing is being constructed, Hollander said. But Kleinhenz anticipates it will be difficult for engineers to design a bridge and approach that links Lowell Road and County Road 325W without stopping.
The current Lowell Bridge was constructed in 1959 at a cost of $186,212 just north of a scenic covered bridge that it replaced. Adjusting for inflation, that same bridge would cost $1.67 million today.
Two years ago, the cost estimate on the new bridge was $2.5 million. Reasons for the higher costs include new regulations or developments that will require the length of the new bridge to be 100 feet longer than the current structure, as well as a minimum of four feet added to the width. In addition, the structure will be built to last a minimum of 80 years, commissioner chairman Carl Lienhoop said.
But those who live in that area needn’t worry about construction any time soon. Even though the federal government has put out an immediate call for proposed projects, the county won’t know whether the 80-20% matching grant has been awarded until sometime next year, Hollander said.
Even if Bartholomew County is awarded the money, Hollander said the current call is for projects to be completed in 2025 — one year later than what was anticipated two years ago.
Lienhoop phrased it in a different perspective.
“We will have another presidential election to endure prior to this bridge being built,” the commissioners chairman said.
