New Harmony Bridge solution proposed
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[The Indiana Department of Transportation has proposed a means of providing some money to upgrade the Wabash River bridge at New Harmony, Ind.
But it's not clear that the offer will be accepted.
INDOT announced Thursday that it "has presented options to the White County Bridge Commission and Posey County (Ind.) Commissioners for funding rehabilitation" of the 80-year-old span, which is owned by the bridge commission, a three-member body set up decades ago by Congress to operate the two-lane structure.
The presentation was made during the Posey commissioners' Sept. 6 meeting; two of the three members of the bridge commission (Chairman Jim Clark of Carmi and Dr. David Rice of New Harmony) were also present.
"A member of the White County Bridge Commission initially approached INDOT seeking a solution to their funding challenges," Will Wingfield of the INDOT staff told The Times Friday, explaining why the September presentation was made.
However, since that meeting, "INDOT has not received a formal position or opinion from either group, so the plan is for continued dialogue on the matter," he added.
Robert Zier, INDOT's chief of staff, told the Posey and bridge commissioners last month that "because the 80-year-old toll bridge carries less than 1,000 vehicles per day, INDOT does not feel that taking over maintenance would advance the purpose and goals of the state highway network.
"The state has successfully leveraged federal funding, grants and new technology for bridge improvements and is eager to offer technical assistance," he added. But because the bridge commission is not a governmental body, "it is not eligible for many state or federal funding opportunities," he said.
By becoming a public or nonprofit bridge, the bridge could compete for INDOT, Indiana Department of Natural Resources and National Park Service grants totaling $6.52 million, Zier added.
Many of these grants require matching funds, so INDOT has identified additional low-traffic state highways that could be transferred to Posey County in exchange for up to $2.7 million. These totals do not include potential funding opportunities on the Illinois side of the Wabash River, the agency added.
"INDOT signs agreements for local authorities to take over state roads for several reasons, including that the road is lightly traveled or there's a desire locally to further develop the corridor," said Wingfield. "In exchange, the state will pay an amount calculated to help defray future maintenance costs. The state does not place limitations on how this money can be reinvested.
"Posey County is the only agency that could take over maintenance of roads outside incorporated cities or towns. Which specific sections of state roads, and the payment associated with each, is still up for discussion. INDOT plans to retain control of I-64 and State Road 62."
How could the bridge become a public entity?
"There are potentially several different options for the bridge to become public or nonprofit," said Wingfield. "One option is for Posey County to assume ownership of the bridge. The bridge commission does not appear to be registered with the IRS as a 501(c)(3)."
INDOT is also recommending that the historic bridge adopt modern open-road or electronic toll collection so more revenue can be reinvested into maintenance and rehabilitation. Last year, INDOT launched the "Wabash Pass" for the toll bridge roughly 20 miles downstream connecting Illinois 141 with Indiana 62 west of Mt. Vernon, Ind.
The Wabash Pass is working as expected, Wingfield said, adding that drivers continue to request transponders.
The Times contacted Clark, who said he attended the September meeting after he was tipped off-not officially informed-that it was to take place. He said he detected no sign that the Posey commissioners were receptive to assuming ownership of either the bridge or any stretch of highway in exchange for the money proffered and the offer of assistance in seeking grants.
"I would love for a respectable entity of some kind to take over the bridge," said Clark, noting that he does a lot of the work at the structure himself. But he would want to be sure that the new owners would be "hands on" and committed to keeping the bridge open, he added.
The bridge is safe, Clark said, pointing to a recent engineer's report to that effect and refuting hints in recent media stories that it was not safe.
But its finances are somewhat shaky; costs (including its White County property taxes and insurance premium) have gone up, and despite some cutbacks in expenses the bridge has little financial cushion.
Clark said he will soon turn 76, and "that would be a good time to bail out. But I just can't leave it now," until a solution to the dilemma is found, he added.