Radius communities to receive nearly $6M in Community Crossings funds for road improvements

Carol Johnson, Southern Indiana Business Report

Twelve cities, towns and counties in the Radius Indiana region were awarded grants from the Indiana Department of Transportation’s Community Crossings fund Friday. Grants to the Radius communities totaled $5.9 million. 

INDOT awarded a total of $91.5 million around the state through the Community Crossings matching grant program, a component of Gov. Eric Holcomb’s Next Level Roads program.

 “Community Crossings continues to provide opportunities for Indiana local communities, large and small, to make connectivity and road improvements for Hoosier families and our visitors,” Holcomb said at a gathering in Wabash. “The importance of this matching grant program is immediately obvious as we take our award-winning statewide infrastructure network to the next level.”

Communities submitted applications for funding during a competitive call for projects in July. Funding for Community Crossings comes from the state’s local road and bridge matching grant fund. The Community Crossings initiative has provided nearly $1.5 billion in state matching funds for local road improvement projects since 2016.

“As a member of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Transportation, I know firsthand how important well-maintained roads are to our local communities,” District 48 State Sen. Mark Messmer, R-Jasper, said. “The Community Crossings Matching Grant Program helps ensure roads are safe for motorists and brings new economic development to our counties, cities and towns. Congratulations to our local leaders for receiving this funding.”

Messmer represents Crawford, Dubois, Gibson, Perry, Pike and Spencer counties.

“Ensuring Indiana’s roadways are strong and safe makes our state attractive to employers and talent,” State Sen. Eric Bassler, R-Washington said. “This is why the Community Crossings Matching Grant Program is so important, as it helps local communities maintain their infrastructure and makes Indiana a better place to live. I want to thank the local leaders for their work in obtaining this money.”

Bassler represents District 39 which includes Daviess, Greene, Knox, and Martin counties, and portions of Owen and Sullivan counties.

“It’s encouraging to see continued dedication and commitment to transportation infrastructure at the local level,” INDOT Commissioner Mike Smith said. “Seeing the completed projects from this program is a reward in itself and a win for the state.”

The next call for projects will open in January.

Community Crossings awards

• Birdseye – $333,080.62 
• Bloomfield – $177,367.50 
• Ferdinand – $476,465.97 
• Greene County – $1,000,000
• Huntingburg – $302,080.12 
• Jasonville – $365,297.23;
• Jasper – $492,257.81 
• Lawrence County – $1,000,000.00 
• Martin County – $367,724.81 
• New Pekin – $226,855.13
• Salem – $768,447.75 
• Worthington  – $452,933.04