A consultant said Tuesday that the Indiana 49 replacement bridges over the South Shore tracks and U.S. 12 have been moved up to July bid-lettings.

A new bridge over U.S. 20 at Indiana 49 will have bids let in May, A.J. Monroe of SEH Inc. told the Porter Town Council.

But despite the busy construction season, Monroe said indications are Indiana 49 will remain open with some lanes left passable for local and visitor traffic.

All construction related to the new bridges is slated for completion by May 31, 2011.

As it did previously for the U.S. 20 bridge, the council voted Tuesday to use grant money on the U.S. 12/South Shore bridges to add cosmetic enhancements like pilasters, sconces and lettering consistent with historic designs in use at the Indiana Dunes State Park.

The Indiana Department of Transportation is funding the bridges themselves.

Bridges within the town limits will say “Town of Porter” on both sides to identify the location along the planned Dunes Kankakee Trail that will parallel Indiana 49 with a hike/bike lane separated by a railed median incorporated on the new bridges.

The cost for the town’s cosmetic enhancements tied to the U.S. 20 bridge was $205,000. Monroe said the new bridge enhancements approved unanimously Tuesday will come out of an additional $400,000 allocated for various activities.

The money is part of an initial $1.8 million grant awarded Porter by the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority for the town’s proposed $30 million U.S. 20/Indiana 49 corridor revitalization as an iconic gateway to the dunes.

In a related matter, Porter director of engineering Matt Keiser said part of the RDA grant was to fund construction of Porter’s leg of the Dunes Kankakee Trail, however, the town has to annex part of the Indiana 49 right-of-way to acquire the needed land soon.

Town attorney Patrick Lyp said if the State of Indiana takes no position on the annexation, that would result in a longer process than if the state agreed to a voluntary annexation.

In other business, no comment was heard at a public hearing to appropriate $200,000 in Rainy Day Fund money to repair a plugged sanitary sewer under downtown Franklin Street. Keiser said work has begun on a test project to reline both the sewer main and laterals and to install clean-outs at the property lines without digging up the roads.

If the town didn’t respond quickly, Keiser told the council, the road would have collapsed. Residents were cautioned that during the reline they may notice a sewage smell and to call the town immediately if sewage backs up into homes, which would be unlikely.

In other business Tuesday:

•Public Works superintendent Brenda Brueckheimer, who is on leave while recuperating from back surgery, presented a watch to Carol Copollo in gratitude for his 30 years of service to the department. Sewer foreman Sarah Olsen said, “I asked Carl and he said he could definitely do another 30, no problem.”

•Resident Jennifer Klug and police chief James Spanier both commended the Porter Fire Deparment, assistant chief Jay Craig, the Porter Police Department and officer Larry LaFlower for their efforts responding to a house fire early Feb. 16. Fire chief Lewis Craig Sr. concurred. Jay Craig carried an eldery woman trapped inside to safety; LaFlower was the first to respond and attempt entry.

•Spanier said the Police Department’s new speed trailer showing a vehicle’s approaching speed and the actual speed as it passes the trailer prompted motorists to slow down where it’s been placed. However, once the trailer is moved to another location speeding resumes, said the chief; he asked drivers to slow down.

•Park superintendent Jim Miller invited the public to attend Saturday’s Porter’s Got Game recreation night from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Hawthorne Park community center.

•Olsen, speaking for the Street Department, asked residents to park as close to the curb as possible following snowfalls to facilitate plowing.

•Councilman Micheal Genger thanked everyone for their expressions of support and sympathy following the recent passing of his mother at age 54.

Posted 2/25/2010