Dubois County Finishes Paving, Begins Major Bridge Repairs

County Highway Engineer Levi Leffert provided a year end update to county officials November 7, detailing progress on paving and an ambitious slate of bridge work that will shape travel and finances in the months ahead. The contractor Calcar is on track to complete its 2025 paving projects by next week, with paving already finished on 580 North and work on Dubois Cuzco Road expected to be done by the end of this week. Paving on Old Petersburg Road and 490 West should be completed next week as well.

The speed limit on 490 West has been reduced from 45 miles per hour to 35 miles per hour following a recently approved ordinance, and new signs have been installed. That change reflects a local decision to address safety concerns as resurfacing and other improvements are completed.

Leffert and county leaders also announced steps to secure federal funding for bridge work through the Bridge Safety Improvement federal call for projects. The County Council signed a letter of financial commitment that supports a 90 to 10 match, a funding structure that could make work on 50 to 60 of the county's bridges eligible for federal dollars. The Indiana Department of Transportation has confirmed the county's projects would be eligible for consideration, and a grant application will be submitted this month.

Active construction has already begun on Bridge 21 on 200 West over Little Creek, roughly a half mile north of County Road 600 North. The existing superstructure will be removed and replaced with new steel beams and a concrete deck. Officials expect the road closure to last approximately six weeks. Due to the scope of the work, there will be no through traffic at all during that time, including for emergency vehicles, which will require rerouting and contingency planning for emergency services.

A small structure inspection on Portersville West found that the structure meets the definition of a bridge. That finding will move the structure into the National Bridge Inventory and trigger a formal inspection under the county's contract with American Structurepoint. This change will allow maintenance to be financed under more favorable terms, with 80 percent covered by federal funds and 20 percent covered by the county.

Looking ahead, a superstructure replacement on Bridge 116 on County Road 820 East, located 0.8 miles north of Schnellville Road, is planned for mid December. That project will close all through traffic while work takes place and will proceed only after weather and site conditions are evaluated. Bridge 78, the large three span structure over the Patoka River on County Road 600 West built in 1969, is also moving toward rehabilitation. Design services with American Structurepoint were approved in January of 2025. Plans are expected by the end of November, contracts may be awarded by February, and construction is slated to begin in spring and run through the summer with an estimated cost of $650,000.

County leaders indicated that additional appropriations will be requested from the County Council to fund some work. Residents seeking more details and regular updates are directed to the Dubois County Government Facebook page for announcements and traffic advisories.