Construction is continuing at a faster-than-expected rate at the future home of the Bartholomew County Highway Garage.
If weather continues to be favorable, county officials believe garage doors and exterior siding can be completed soon, Bartholomew County Commissioners Chairman Carl Lienhoop said.
“That will allow interior work to progress all through the winter,” Lienhoop said. “It will be a whole lot easier to maintain some heat in there.”
At the same time, the commissioner said unexpected winds and inclement weather could slow things down a bit on the construction of the $7.1 million facility east of the Clay Township Fire Department on East 25th Street.
[sc:text-divider text-divider-title=”Story continues below gallery” ]
“When the wind is blowing 20 miles per hour, it’s awful hard to put siding on out there,” Lienhoop said.
Overhead Door of Columbus is handling the garage door installation.
In addition, half of the shop floor was poured on Dec. 4, and crews were preparing to build two outdoor sheds, Lienhoop said.
Project supervisor David Doup describes the main garage as “a very complex operation with intricate machinery that must work correctly from the moment operations get underway.”
The purchase of some intricate machinery was approved this week. NAPA Auto Parts of Columbus was the lowest of three bidders to make a proposal to provide a heavy lift capable of lifting dump trucks. The $40,160 bid was more than $6,000 lower than the second highest bid.
NAPA also submitted the lowest of three bids for two 12,000 pound flat-surface mount lifts capable of lifting pickup up trucks and patrol vehicles. Not only did the company make a bid of $13,731 for the two mobile lifts, but NAPA also offered a 10% price discount if the purchases are made before the end of the year, county officials said.
If the construction crews have no further setbacks while performing interior work over the winter, county highway engineer Danny Hollander anticipates the garage may be ready to be occupied by April.
Lienhoop said the commissioners may lobby the Bartholomew County Council to provide the highway garage with new furniture.
Much of the furnishings inside the 68-year-old current garage at 2452 State St. is no longer useful, he said.
