BEDFORD– The Lawrence County Commissioners have approved Highway Superintendent Brian Sowder’s request to hire the Lochmueller Group to assist in securing federal aid for repairs to Bridge 107, a truss bridge located on Armstrong Station Road, just off State Road 58 west of Springville.
The Lochmueller Group will provide essential services for a fee of $500, including cost estimates and schedules for all phases of development—such as engineering, utilities, and right-of-ways. Additionally, they will supply detailed construction cost estimates, compile necessary maps, photos, and traffic data for the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT), and request an 811 utility ticket to gather feedback from all relevant utilities. They will also assist in obtaining the required crash data and completing the INDOT Federal Application online. The firm will attend an INDOT review meeting to address any technical questions related to the project.
Sowder emphasized that this support is crucial for securing the federal funding necessary to address safety and structural concerns with Bridge 107, which has become a critical point of focus for the county’s infrastructure improvements.
In other highway matters, Sowder updated the commissioners on Bridge 176, a single-lane bridge located on Sugar Creek Road. Local farmers primarily use the bridge to access their fields.
With the completed hydration study and approval from the Department of Natural Resources, highway department crews will replace the bridge with a culvert system, a more cost-effective and sustainable solution.
These efforts reflect the county’s ongoing commitment to improving transportation infrastructure and ensuring the safety of its residents and local farmers.
