INDOT to close SR 135 for construction on bridge

The Indiana Department of Transportation met with utility company representatives and construction personnel Thursday to discuss the replacement of a culvert on Indiana State Road 135.

Removal and replacement of the culvert, located north of the Van Buren Township of Brown County, will require closure of SR 135 for up to 30 days.

A state-official detour will be in effect until the
culvert is completed.

SR 135 is owned by the state and maintained by INDOT, said INDOT Spokesperson Harry Maginity.

“We do not put traffic off of our road onto a county road,” he said. “If we did, we’d have to rebuild those roads due to increased traffic.”

Despite not wanting to direct state traffic to local and county roads, the detour is lengthy because of the lack of state highways, Maginity said.

Local residents and commercial operations will know quicker paths than the detour, he said.

The project will require installation of a precast reinforced concrete box structure measuring 20 feet in length and 40 feet in width, according to a press release from INDOT.

The project will cost an approximated $341,313.

Brian Seymour