By DAVE SCHULTZ
The extension of the Interurban Trail to Lancaster Park drew just one bid Tuesday, at just over $900,000.
Bunn Inc. of Fort Wayne submitted the bid, which is apparently more than was expected. When the Bluffton Parks and Recreation Department received a $408,000 Next Level Trails Grant from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, it was expected that money would pay for 80 percent of the trail’s extension.
However, the bid submitted Monday means the grant money will not even be half of the total cost of construction.
The bid was opened during Tuesday’s meeting of the Bluffton Board of Public Works and Safety, and was taken under advisement for review by the Parks Department staff and consultants.
The trail currently ends at the intersection of Main Street/Ind. 1 and Monroe Street/Wells County Road 200N. The intersection has Walmart to the northwest, Lowe’s to the northeast, and Walgreens to the southeast. The trail comes up the west side of Main Street and stops before crossing Monroe Street.
The plan is to complete the trail to Lancaster Park by going up the east side of Main Street. The park is on Jackson Street/Wells County Road 300N across from Lancaster Central Elementary School.
daves@news-banner.com
