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January 31, 2012

Clarksville talks removal of bridge

Vote on Lewis and Clark project expected Feb. 6

By DAVID A. MANN David.Mann@newsandtribune.com

CLARKSVILLE — Despite having a signed agreement with the Indiana Department of Transportation, Clarksville leaders may be backing off a road project that removes the Lewis and Clark bridge over Brown’s Station Way.

A joint meeting of the Clarksville Town Council and the Clarksville Redevelopment Commission was called to discuss how the project would be pursued Monday night.

But that discussion of how quickly turned into one about why.

“Are we at a point where we are beyond rethinking taking the bridge down,” said Town Council President John Gilkey.

James K. Ude, planning and production director with the Indiana Department of Transportation Seymour district, responded that backing out of the project now could put at risk the $4 million the state has put up for the effort. It’s an estimated $5 million project. Clarksville would fund the difference and design costs for an estimated total of $1.5 million.

Right now, Lewis and Clark Parkway and Brown’s Station Way are connected with a cloverleaf, overpass intersection. However, the project discussed Monday night aims to remove the overpass in favor of a level, or at-grade, intersection.

 The state is seeking to vacate the bridge but none of the local governments are interested in assuming its maintenance responsibilities.

Further, there are storm water drainage problems in the area — along Victory Court, Lincoln Drive and Lewis and Clark Parkway — that town leaders agree need to be addressed. Those could be incorporated into the bridge removal project or be done separately.

Gilkey said he’s talked to business owners on Lewis and Clark Boulevard who are extremely concerned about the traffic impact the project would have. Businesses on that end of the parkway worry about losing traffic from New Albany, he said.

Just last month project coordinator Brittany Montgomery said the intersection could be closed for up to two years as the work takes place — initiating talk of a $1 million temporary intersection being constructed. Monday night, however she said the town could build incentives or penalties into a contract to make sure the intersection is only closed for three months.

“I don’t know why we need to do it,” said Don Tetley, councilman.

Ude said that if the town backed out of the deal, the bridge deck would need to be rehabbed — something the state would have to fund. Gilkey said he believed it would be cheaper to rehab the bridge than remove it.

Redevelopment Director Rick Dickman said if the bridge were merely rehabbed, the town would still have to pay for its drainage improvements. And he said he believes getting rid of the bridge would eventually help business on Lewis and Clark Boulevard by creating more traffic flow from Brown’s Station Way.

Councilman Bob Popp wants the town to move forward with the project because of the state’s financial commitment.

Clarksville wouldn’t be renegotiating, he said, it would be moving to the back of the line.

He argued that even if the town ends up spending $2 million on the project, the state is still spending double that amount.

“If that’s not a good deal, I don’t know what a good deal is,” he said.

Doug Fisher, redevelopment commission member, said he believes removing a bridge is a good thing.

“When it’s said and done it becomes a much more attractive road,” he said.

The council has a little bit of time before they have to decide on the project, as work wouldn’t start until 2013.

Popp called for a vote on the project then and there but it wasn’t to be. Gilkey indicated that a vote could come at the council’s next meeting 7 p.m. Monday at Clarksville Town Hall, 2000 Broadway.

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