Latest news with #PorterCountyDepartmentofDevelopmentandStormwaterManagement
Chicago Tribune
24-07-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
A span's saga as money, timing and salmon pose challenges
The saga of the closed North Mineral Springs Road bridge in Porter grinds on, with unusual obstacles like how construction of the new span may have to pause for months to protect salmon in the Little Calumet River. The bid opening for the project has been moved back to mid-September, said Michael Jabo, director of the Porter County Department of Development and Stormwater Management. Porter County had originally planned to bid the project in May and then delayed it until this month. 'Oh wow. It just keeps moving back and meanwhile, the businesses back there keep suffering,' said Michael Barry, Porter's development director/building superintendent. The businesses that Barry is referring to are in the Spring House complex that includes an inn, Uno Pizzeria & Grill restaurant, a bar and banquet facilities. The delay in replacing the bridge cuts off easy access to the complex from U.S. 20, stretching into the next summer season. That would mean a third summer in a row affected by the closed bridge. Those wanting to access the complex can take Beam Street to North Mineral Springs Road. Barry said they have tried to help by posting detour signs on U.S. 20, but it's hard to attract visitors to the Indiana Dunes parks who are unfamiliar with local roads. From the start, the North Mineral Springs Road bridge has been a challenge since it suddenly closed on Dec. 1, 2023, after an inspection revealed the structure to be unsafe because of deteriorating beams. The Porter County government hadn't planned to replace the bridge until 2026 or 2027. To speed the process, the county decided to forego federal funding and finance the project by itself. Jabo won't say how much he expects the bridge will cost, but it will be millions of dollars. Jabo said other important preparation work for the bridge has proceeded, such as obtaining right-of-way and architectural design. The new bridge will be at a higher elevation above the river. Then there is the key environmental issue involving the movements of Coho and Chinook Salmon between July and November. 'There are windows of time that we cannot be working in the channel, which is the Little Calumet River,' Jabo said. Jabo said they are hoping to obtain a waiver from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources that will allow for more construction flexibility. If the contract is awarded in September, demolition work could possibly start by the year's end. It's hoped that construction would be ready to proceed in the spring, Jabo said.
Chicago Tribune
22-05-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Construction bids delayed until July for replacing Porter bridge
The bid opening for a new North Mineral Springs Road Bridge in Porter has been delayed until July, and the challenges might include how construction crews will have to work around the presence of the Coho and Chinook Salmon in the Little Calumet River's East Branch. The bridge just south of U.S. 20 suddenly closed on Dec. 1, 2023, when an inspection discovered deteriorating steel beams that made the structure unsafe. Porter County had originally planned to replace the bridge in 2026 or 2027. There was no money available to do an emergency replacement of the span. To expedite the project, the county had to finance the project on its own because requirements connected with federal funds could delay the project even more. The bid opening had to be pushed back from May to July 15, because right-of-way had to be purchased from three property owners near the bridge, said Mike Jabo, director of the Porter County Department of Development and Stormwater Management. The bridge's design will be different with the deck set at a higher level over the river. Jabo said the new bridge will cost 'a significant amount of money.' He didn't want to release an estimate before the bids were submitted. If all goes well, the bridge is projected to open around Memorial Day next year — May 29, 2026. Meanwhile, the closure will continue to have the biggest impact on the Spring House Inn complex, which is south of the bridge on North Mineral Springs Road. The complex includes an inn, Uno Pizzeria & Grill restaurant, a bar and banquet facilities. Vishal Patel, the owner, has said the restaurant has lost 25% of its revenue because of the closure. 'We have (detour) signs up everywhere, but it doesn't seem to do enough,' said Michael Barry, Porter's development director/building superintendent. The Spring House Inn complex can be accessed from Beam Street off U.S. 20 to N. Mineral Springs Road. Patel has said he believes that although there are detour signs on U.S. 20, visitors to the Indiana Dunes National and State Parks speed past because they are unfamiliar with the local roads. Another replacement issue could be the presence and movement of the Coho and Chinook Salmon in the Little Calumet River's East Branch. Porter County has to obtain permission from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources for an exception to work in the river where the salmon are present from July 15 to Nov. 30. Jabo said they will have to abide by the rules. Barry said the bridge construction could still proceed above the water. The construction will start with the demolition of the old bridge and then building a retaining wall.
