Grants could provide more than $2 million to invest in needed upgrades to local roads
Vanderburgh County Engineer John Stoll and his staff have been working diligently over the past few weeks to submit grant applications for more than $2 million to the Indiana Department of Transportation to help fund 10 key roadway projects throughout the county.
INDOT’S Community Crossings Matching Grant program provides funding to cities, towns, and counties across Indiana so that they may invest in improvements to local roads and bridges. These infrastructure enhancements assist Hoosier communities in driving economic development, creating jobs, and strengthening local transportation networks.
“We’ve directed John and his team to leave no stone unturned in ensuring eligible state dollars come back to Vanderburgh County for road projects,” said Bruce Ungethiem, president of the Vanderburgh County Commission Board. “That’s exactly what his team is doing with these Community Crossing grant applications, and that’s the kind of commitment we want to see on behalf of our local taxpayers’ hard-earned money.”
Stoll said his team identified eligible projects based on input and concerns previously expressed from county residents and businesses.
“These state matching grants can help with a number of key projects, such as replacing the bridge on St. Joseph Avenue between Mill Road and Wimberg Road, which has seen a lot of wear and tear due to the landfill truck traffic that uses that route,†said Stoll.
The grants, if awarded, would also reimburse the county for a portion of the costs of the recently completed paving work on Old Mt. Vernon Road, and assist with funding upcoming paving projects such as Boonville New Harmony Road, Pollack Avenue, Mt. Pleasant Road, Rusher Creek Road, and County Line Road.
Commissioner Ben Shoulders said constituents have mentioned to him some of the concerns these identified areas present to the community, and he’s eager to see if INDOT will select these crucial projects for the matching grants.
“We have some real need, and these are real dollars that can help resolve these immediate concerns,†Shoulders said.
Commissioner Cheryl Musgrave promised her constituents that she will doggedly encourage county officials to leave nothing on the table that could be available for Vanderburgh County residents.
“Matching grants, new gas-tax allocations back to the counties — all of these are going to be crucial to ensuring Vanderburgh County has the best opportunity to attract economic development, and make Evansville and surrounding county communities a place people want to live and do business,†Musgrave added.
INDOT will announce grant awards later this summer.
