US 31 project back on schedule

US 31 construction back on schedule
Carmel Mayor: Taking over the project still an option

By Kevin Kane
Current in Westfield


January 12, 2010


During the US 31 Coalition’s annual legislative day, Governor Mitch Daniels and INDOT affirmed that the US 31 reconstruction project will be fully funded and completed on schedule.


Last week, Current in Westfield reported that Mayor Andy Cook and Carmel Mayor Jim Brainard claimed they were both told during separate meetings with INDOT officials that significant portions of the project’s construction would be moved to 2017, two years after the Major Moves funding is scheduled to end. INDOT spokesman Will Wingfield admitted that some construction was tentatively scheduled for 2017 but stressed that nothing was definitive. On Jan. 12, though, both Cook and Brainard said they were assured that the project will be completed in full and on the original timeline.


“At this time we are satisfied the project will be funded and built,” Cook said in an e-mail. “We will continue to monitor the progress very closely.”


While Brainard said the decision to remain on the original schedule is good news, he said it is still a possibility that Carmel and Westfield will look to take over the project, as was done with construction on Keystone. Brainard said this option will be considered because he thinks it can cut the timeframe in half and, in doing so, save a great deal of money.


“There’s a huge sale on road construction right now,” Brainard said. “Bids are coming in at 25 percent less than usual, so the faster we can get this done the more money we can save.”


Cook said before Tuesday’s announcement that he’d heard informal discussions about the two cities taking over the project, and at that time he said he was in favor of doing so.


“It sounds like an absolutely impossible feat,” he said. “But yes, we’ll be happy to participate.”