I-64 Restrictions & Slowdowns at Sherman Minton Bridge (Sept 18-20)

The Indiana Department of Transportation will impose lane restrictions and rolling roadblocks next week to facilitate removal of a 50-foot extended sign truss and two support columns on the upper deck of the Sherman Minton bridge.  During this operation, an EXIT ONLY plaque will be installed on existing signage for NEW ALBANY EXIT 123.

This work is scheduled to be accomplished between Monday and Wednesday (SEPT. 18-20) at mile maker 123.7 of westbound Interstate 64.  The location is immediately above the levy at New Albany.

INDOT officials anticipate truss and column removal operations can be completed Monday night between the hours of 9 p.m. and 7 a.m.—with incidental activities concluding Tuesday afternoon by 2 p.m.  Inclement weather or unforeseen issues might require extending work to overnight hours Tuesday—with incidental activities terminating Wednesday afternoon. 

Here’s what to expect:

Double Left Lane Closure:  Two westbound I-64 lanes will close at 9 p.m. at mile marker 123.7.  The double left lane restriction will be lifted by 7 a.m. 

Rolling Roadblocks:  All I-64 westbound lanes will close at the worksite for periods of up to 20 minutes when sign and column removals require crane movement over the roadway. This will be accomplished by “rolling roadblocks”.  Police patrols will slow vehicular movement between the I-264 entrance ramp and mile marker 123.7 to approximately 3 mph—creating traffic voids at the worksite. These rolling roadblocks will occur as needed between the hours of 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. 

Single Right Lane Closure:  Westbound I-64’s right lane will close to traffic once the double left lane closure has been lifted.  The restriction will not be imposed before 12 a.m.  It must be lifted by 2 p.m.

Wiss-Janney-Elstner Associates is Indiana’s contractor for the Sherman Minton bridge project.

-Source INDOT

Floyd County Selected by Governor Holcomb for FSSA’s On My Way Pre-K program

Governor Eric J. Holcomb today announced 15 additional Indiana counties are now eligible to participate in On My Way Pre-K, making prekindergarten available in 2018 to 4-year olds from low-income families in those counties. Earlier this year, the Indiana General Assembly expanded the program from five pilot counties to 20 counties in House Enrolled Act (HEA) 1004-2017.

The new counties added to the On My Way Pre-K program are Bartholomew, DeKalb, Delaware, Elkhart, Floyd, Grant, Harrison, Howard, Kosciusko, Madison, Marshall, Monroe, St. Joseph, Tippecanoe and Vigo. Participating local providers in these counties will be expected to enroll children in On My Way Pre-K for the 2018/2019 school year, with the possibility of a limited program beginning in January of 2018.

These additional counties will join Allen, Jackson, Lake, Marion and Vanderburgh counties, which have provided early education via the On My Way Pre-K program since 2015 when first authorized by the General Assembly.

Indiana's "Do Not Call" List

With stories of phone scams appearing in headlines lately, Indiana residents are urged to sign up for Indiana's "Do Not Call" list.

Registration is free for Indiana residents and available for residential land lines, wireless numbers, prepaid wireless numbers and voice over internet protocols.

While being placed on the list will eliminate most telemarketing calls, residents may still be contacted by certain groups such as insurance agents, newspapers, realtors and most charities. The easiest way to avoid dealing with these types of calls is by ignoring the call if you do not recognize the number.

Indiana residents can sign up for the list by clicking here.

Floyd County Substance Abuse Hotline

The Floyd County Health Department has set up a new lifeline for members of our community seeking help for their substance abuse problems.

Functional this week, the phone service provides numbers for substance abuse assistance. Callers are provided the names and organizations to contact for inpatient and outpatient therapy as well as detoxification. People may use the service anonymously or can contact a FCHD representative for assistance and follow-up.

The number is (812) 542-6844. Use is not limited to Floyd County residents. The roll-out of the lifeline will be linked to publicity efforts to increase the visibility of its number. We hope to increase utilization of services already in existence in our area. The FCHD has been working for months to increase awareness and use of community addiction assets that help those with drug issues.

“This is a part of the Health Department’s continuing response to the increasing public health effects of drug abuse in our community”, said Floyd County Health Officer Thomas M. Harris, MD. Dr. Harris did note that to date Floyd County has not yet seen the spike in Hepatitis C and HIV cases that have troubled other southern Indiana counties and have led to measures such as needle exchanges in those communities. “We are seeing an increase in the overdoses secondary to heroin, however.”

For additional information please contact the FCHD at 812-948-4726.