PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Hancock County, with funding from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and administrative oversight from the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT), is developing plans for the proposed S CR 600 W Roadway Reconstruction Project (Des. No. 2201630) located along S CR 600 W from W CR 600 S to W Stinemyer Rd, near New Palestine, Hancock and Shelby Counties, Indiana.

The purpose of the project is to address the roadway deficiencies, reduce the likelihood of car crashes and reduce the potential for roadway overtopping for storms below the 50-year storm event at culvert SC-3 which conveys Sugar Run beneath the roadway. Specifically, a successful project would reduce the likelihood of cars running off the roadway and reduce the likelihood of crashes from fixed objects in the clear zone.

The primary need for this project is evidenced by existing roadway deficiencies and the resulting car crash history occurring along the corridor. The existing roadway consists of two 10-foot wide travel lanes with little to no shoulders. West Little Sugar Creek is immediately west of S CR 600 W and flows south parallel to the roadway for approximately 0.30 mile. Additionally, S CR 600 W curves following a bend in the channel of West Little Sugar Creek immediately south of W Stinemeyer Road. The narrow lane widths, lack of shoulders, curvature, location of fixed objects within the clear zone, and proximity of the creek to the roadway leave little room for drivers to recover before running off the roadway. Since 2008, nine crashes have occurred along the corridor. Six of these crashes (67%) have involved drivers running off the road, resulting in a total of three injuries to drivers.

An additional need for the project is demonstrated by the hydraulic function deficiencies associated with the existing corrugated metal arch culvert carrying Sugar Run underneath S CR 600 W (County No. SC-3), located approximately 0.67 mile south of the intersection of S CR 600 W and W Stinemyer Road. The existing structure is undersized and overtops the roadway prior to the 10-year storm. Hancock County’s design standard is to provide roadways which do not overtop below the 50-year storm event. The existing structure and downstream channel are also heavily silted which further reduces the capacity of the channel and promotes overtopping of the roadway.
 

The project proposes to construct a single-lane roundabout at the intersection of S CR 600 W and W Stinemyer Road. The typical section in the roundabout will include a single 16-foot wide travel lane, 17-foot 6-inch wide truck apron, and 49-foot diameter grassed center island. New 2-foot 7-inch wide curb and gutter will be constructed around the roundabout. The curbs will convey stormwater to curb turnouts and riprap chutes which will convey drainage into new roadside ditches or West Little Sugar Creek. Additionally, S CR 600 W will be widened from the existing two, 10-foot wide lanes to two, 12-foot wide lanes (one northbound and one southbound) with 8-foot wide shoulders (2-foot paved and 6-foot earthen). The existing roadway alignment will be shifted between 20 to 36 feet east, away from Little Sugar Creek to provide a 16- to 20-foot wide clear zone along the western shoulder of S CR 600 W. Additionally, the existing culvert (County No. SC-3) which conveys Sugar Run beneath S CR 600 W will be replaced with a 12-foot span, 5-foot rise reinforced concrete box culvert. The existing channel of Sugar Run will be excavated to remove silt buildup. In addition to replacement of SC-3, three unnumbered county culverts (Structures 100, 101, and 103) will be replaced and one new culvert (Structure 104) will be installed. These pipes will work in conjunction with new roadside ditches and riprap drainage chutes to perpetuate existing flow through the project area and convey stormwater from the new roadway towards adjacent streams.

The proposed construction of this project will require approximately 4.86 acres of new permanent right-of-way (ROW) and 0.56 acres of temporary ROW. No relocations are anticipated as a result of the proposed project.

The maintenance of traffic (MOT) plan will include a full closure with a detour via W CR 600 S, S CR 800 W, and US 52 throughout construction. Access to all properties within and adjacent to the project limits will be maintained throughout construction. The MOT is anticipated to be in place for approximately one year, beginning in Spring of 2028 and continuing to Spring of 2029.

The cost associated with this project is approximately $9,306,870 which includes design, right-of-way, and construction costs. Both federal and local funding will be used.

PROJECT UPDATES

Legal Notice of Planned Improvement:

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and INDOT have agreed that this project falls within the guidelines of a Categorical Exclusion (CE) Level 2 environmental document. Preliminary design plans along with the CE 2 are available for review at the following locations:

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• In-person at the Hancock County Highway Department, 921 Osage St., Greenfield, IN 46140

• Online at the American Structurepoint, Inc. Website – www.structurepointpublic.com/cr600

Persons with limited internet access may request the project information be mailed, please contact April Pape at (317) 547-5580 or apape@structurepoint.com. A copy of the CE 2 may also be mailed upon request to interested persons.

PROJECT DOCUMENT LINKS