“WHAT’S GOING ON WITH THE HARMONY WAY BRIDGE?”

“WHAT’S GOING ON WITH THE HARMONY WAY BRIDGE?”

June 4, 2018

Undoubtedly the most asked question I get on my rounds here in New Harmony is, “What’s going on with the Bridge?” When I deliver my paper, inevitably the question keeps popping up. Well, here’s a bit of an update!

The initiative to bring life back into the Harmony Way Bridge is still getting traction. Lora Arnsberg and the Bridge Committee is making progress in Illinois. There were meetings on the other side of the river several months ago by Bridge Committee members and Officials and Citizens over there, now they seem to be paying off. After all, we need Illinois to be a participant and a supporter of this project. Our towns actually make up one community that has been separated for the past seven years by the closing of our common bridge connection.

We are all currently waiting for Indiana Governor Holcomb, Posey County Commission President Jim Alsop and New Harmony Town Council President Alvin Blaylock to make their appointments to the new Indiana Harmony Way Bridge Authority. So far that hasn’t happened. When it does it will open the door for Indiana Regional Cities to transfer some $350,000 to the Authority for work to be done on our bridge. It will also open the door for the White County Bridge Commission to transfer the ownership of the bridge to the Authority. Lora says that, “Until these things are nailed down there’s not much to do in public meetings or otherwise!”

Most recently she reported to the New Harmony Gazette that, “The Illinois bridge legislation passed their House by 117-0 and passed the Senate 52-2. The Illinois Governor has 60 days to sign, veto or just let it become law without signature. The final version was good and includes the property tax exemption, the ability to bond and apply for grants. All that we asked for.”

This is all good news and shows remarkable progress and cooperation between our two States. I’m sure all of you feel the same as I do, that this Bridge Committee has done truly outstanding work on something that has needed a change like this since 1940.