Des. Nos. 2003077, 2101776
CR 200 South Grade
Separation over Norfolk
Southern Rail, Wells County
The Wells County Highway Department with oversight from the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) and funding from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), is developing plans for roadway improvements along County Road (CR) 200 South from Adams Street (CR 100 East) and continuing for approximately 1.0 mile east to CR 200 East, including a grade separation over Norfolk Southern Railroad track, approximately 2.1 miles southwest of the downtown area of the City of Bluffton in Wells County.
The preferred alternative for this project is to address the inadequate lane and shoulder widths and to realign CR 200 South (Des. No. 2003077) and to construct a bridge over the Norfolk Southern Railroad to remove the at-grade crossing (Des. No. 2101776).
Des. No. 2003077: Improvements to CR 200 South will begin at the intersection of CR 100 East (Adams Street) and end at the intersection of CR 200 East and will include reconstruction and widening from 9 to 10-foot-wide lanes to 12-foot-wide lanes and from 0–1-foot shoulders to 4-foot-wide shoulders. Drainage improvements will also include new roadside ditches and driveway pipes. CR 200 South will be realigned approximately 160 feet to the south of the existing railroad crossing. This realignment will be approximately 2,500 feet and is needed to reduce the skew by which the road intersects the railroad track. By reducing the skew, the length of the new bridge can be shortened, thereby reducing the impacts to neighboring properties and reducing project costs. The realignment of CR 200 South will reduce impact to adjacent residents by decreasing the amount of road grading needed to achieve the minimum height requirement over the railroad line. This will also cause the intersection with Hoosier Heartland Highway and CR 200 S to be realigned from this current location approximately 260 feet to the south. This will also allow CR 200 South to remain open during a portion of the construction schedule. The existing at-grade crossing of the railroad track will be turned into cul-de-sacs on both sides, once the bridge is open to traffic.
Des. No. 2101776: The project proposes to install a three-span continuous composite prestressed concrete I-beam bridge to carry CR 200 South over the Norfolk Southern Railroad tracks. The bridge will have a minimum vertical clearance of 24-foot and 3.25-inches over the railroad track. The bridge will have an out-to-out width of approximately 34-feet 8-inches and carry two 12-foot through lanes of traffic bordered by 4-foot 4-inch-wide shoulders, one in each direction. Bridge railing will be constructed along both sides of the bridge and will be approximately 3 feet, 6 inches in height. While there is no pedestrian facilities proposed as part of this project, railroad design criteria require that an anti-climb shield will also be installed along the bridge. A 4-inch-thick concrete slopewall will be used on both sides of the railroad crossing.
Maintenance of traffic (MOT) will consist of building as much of the bridge and approach work offline while CR 200 South remains open. Closures and a detour will be used when the new roadway ties into the existing roadway. Access to all adjacent property owners will be maintained during construction. Project stakeholders including local school corporation(s) and emergency services will be notified of potential closures and/or detours prior to any construction.
Approximately 1.17 acres of impact will occur to grassland habitat, and 0.059 acres of tree clearing is planned. No impacts to streams, open water features, or wetlands are anticipated to occur because of this project.
A portion of the road improvements will require minor strips of right-of-way as partial acquisitions to construct the project. No need for temporary right-of-way is anticipated. Approximately 15.13 acres of permanent right-of-way acquisition is expected, consisting of agricultural, residential, and forested properties. There will be one relocation associated with this project. The house will not be purchased, only right-of-way that will be needed will be acquired, including the outbuildings.
The cost associated with this project is $8.7 million which includes preliminary engineering, right-of-way, and construction with federal and local funds anticipated to be used.
The FHWA and INDOT have agreed that this project falls within the guidelines of a Categorical Exclusion (CE) Level 3 environmental document.
Preliminary design plans, along with the CE, are available for review at the following locations:
1. Wells County Public Library, 200 W Washington St, Bluffton, IN 46714
2. Wells County Highway Department, 828 E 200 S Bluffton, IN 46714
3. INDOT Fort Wayne District Office, 5333 Hatfield Road, Fort Wayne, IN 46808
4. Available online at: https://wellscounty.org/highway-department/
All interested persons may request a public hearing be held and/or submit comments to the attention of Leigh Montano, Butler, Fairman, and Seufert, Inc., 500 E. 96th St, Suite 500, Indianapolis, IN 46240 (317-713-4615) or lmontano@bfsengr.com on or before August 26. In addition, project information, including the environmental document, may be mailed to interested persons upon request.
In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), persons and/or groups requiring project information be made available in alternative formats are encouraged to contact the INDOT Project Manager Associate for the arrangement and coordination of services. Please contact David Clough at dclough@indot.in.gov or 260-969-8318. In accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, persons and/or groups requiring project information be made available in another language are encouraged to contact dclough@indot.in.gov or 260-969-8318.
This notice is published in compliance with: 1) Code of Federal Regulations, Title 23, Section 771 (CFR 771.11(h)(l) stating, “Each State must have procedures approved by the FHWA to carry out a public involvement/public hearing program.” 2) 23 CFR 450.210(a)(1)(ix) stating, “Provide for the periodic review of the effectiveness of the public involvement process to ensure that the process provides full and open access to all interested parties and revise the process, as appropriate.”; and 3) The INDOT Project Development Public Involvement Procedures Manual approved by the FHWA on July 7, 2021.
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