Bids on overpass project due next month

The Columbus Redevelopment Commission has given approval to pay for the increased cost estimates for the downtown overpass project.

Those cost estimates have jumped more than $5 million dollars. The city is responsible for half of the cost of the project. Dave Hayward, city engineer, spoke during Monday’s meeting of the Columbus Redevelopment Commission about the project.

This means that an estimated $2.6 million dollars in additional funds will be needed in order to meet Columbus’ financial commitment to this project.

Hayward notes that work has gone fairly smooth thus far.

In addition to utility work, Hayward says state officials also did some archeology work.

Hayward adds that he doesn’t yet know if anything was found.

Hayward says bids on the project are due next month.

INDOT says that an estimated $2.6 million dollars in additional funds will be needed in order to meet Columbus’ financial commitment to this project. The city’s final payment to INDOT, expected to be around $4.6 million, is due December 1st.

The Redevelopment Commission approved making the payment out of funds from the Central Tax Increment Financing area. However this expenditure exceeds the commission’s spending authority, so the City Council would also need to sign off on the proposal.