County Considers Alternate Holland Dumpster Site, Reports Road Closures for Bridge Repairs

After a failed search land search for the new Holland dumpster site, Dubois County is now considering an alternative location to keep the service available for local residents. 

For the last several months, the Dubois County Highway Department has been searching for an available half acre of land to purchase for the new Holland dumpster site. The current site is no longer available. Although the contract expired in December, the owner has allowed the county to temporarily extend the lease on a month-by-month basis through March. Since no land has been available for purchase, the department says that they will have to use an alternative plan. The proposed site is inside the gate of Holland Sanitation by the lagoons, and it appears that the dumpsters and shed from the current site will fit. The contract has not been confirmed, and the department will complete a site plan to ensure that the dimensions will be sufficient. Highway Superintendent Donnie Lueken said that the traffic flow is not ideal, but at least it will maintain a local dumpster site for Holland residents. 

An update was provided on Bridge 116, which is located 0.8 miles north of Schnellville Road on County Road 820 East. The location was closed for several weeks, with bridge crews beginning work on February 9 to replace the beams and deck. The project was completed ahead of schedule and the road has been reopened. The bridge had to be raised four inches, so stone has been temporarily placed at both ends of the bridge to allow for a smooth transition from the roadway. It will be replaced when asphalt plants reopen, and a permanent approach will be installed. 

Work is expected to begin in Spring of this year on Bridges 107 and 240 on St. Anthony Road North and St. Anthony Road West. Both bridges will be closed concurrently in order to reduce costs for the county and complete the projects in a reasonable time frame. Bridge 78 will require a 60-day closure, which is expected to significantly impact travel. Additional details will be released regarding the project’s closure time and schedule. 

Bridge 119 on Club Road, located 0.5 miles north of State Road 264, will be replaced by the county’s bridge crew. American Structurepoint completed a detailed evaluation on this bridge approximately a year ago. They found that the condition of the deck and beams, in addition to the fact that it is 62 years old, warranted a replacement of the superstructure. This work needs to be completed before Club Road is paved on or after June 1. Club Road will be closed at the end of March or beginning of April for the bridge repairs. There are no closures planned for the roadway during paving. 

For more information, visit the Highway Department webpage at www.duboiscountyin.org 

 - By Drew Hasselbring