(INDIANAPOLIS) – Indy will put another $13 million dollars into neighborhood road repairs.
The state sends Indiana counties the money collected through local income taxes, but sends a second check in May after confirming more money than expected will be coming in. Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett says Marion County began planning early for this year’s windfall, consulting with the 25 City-County Council members to identify the major road in their districts most in need of immediate repair.
Hogsett says it was clear road repairs would be the top priority for the money. He says the potholes riddling Indianapolis streets are the worst in four years, thanks to a winter that was more wet than usual. Indy saw less snow than normal, but except for some cold snaps in January, winter temperatures were warmer than normal. That means heavier than usual precipitation mostly came in the form of rain, not snow. Hogsett says while that may save you from shoveling and plowing, it’s worse for the roads because of the constant freeze-and-thaw cycle. Public Works director Dan Parker says workers have revisited some roads several times to fill potholes, and some of those roads have deteriorated to where tit’s time to tear up damaged pavement and pour brand-new asphalt.
Parker says the city’s contracts include a couple of standby agreements for when extra money turns up. That will allow work to begin immediately once the City-County Council approves the spending, a vote expected July 11.
$3 million of the money will go toward design work on projects which aren’t yet shovel-ready.
