The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) says it is collecting public comment on the preliminary selection of a proposal by E&B Paving, Inc. and United Consulting Engineers, Inc. to widen and modernize 14 miles of Interstate 65 in southeast Indiana. The $143 million project will add travel lanes on I-65 between U.S. 50 (Exit 50) and State Road 58 (Exit 64), including the rehabilitation of seven overpass bridges.
Project documents, the selected preferred proposal, and an explanation of the preliminary selection will be available for review beginning at 9 a.m. Thursday, May 25 on the project website: www.in.gov/dot/div/contracts/65se/65SE.htm.
The documents can also be reviewed beginning Thursday, May 25 during business hours at INDOT’s Innovative Project Delivery Division, 100 N. Senate Ave., Room N642, Indianapolis, IN 46204.
The public is encouraged to submit written comments about the preferred proposal, preliminary selection and proposal-evaluation process by 5 p.m. on June 8. Comments may be emailed to sperez@ifa.in.gov or mailed to project manager Silvia Perez, One North Capitol, Suite 900, Indianapolis, IN 46204.
Public hearings about the selected preferred proposal will be held on June 7 in the Columbus City Hall at 123 Washington St., Columbus, IN 47201 and on Thursday, June 8 in the Brownstown Town Hall, at 200 West Walnut St., Brownstown, IN 47220. Both meetings will begin at 6 p.m. local time with a brief presentation followed by a formal public comment period.
The public is encouraged to arrive early and ask questions before the presentation of INDOT project staff, who will also be available after the formal hearing.
INDOT reviewed proposals submitted by three qualified design-build teams. In addition to meeting the technical and quality requirements of the Request for Proposal, the E&B Paving, Inc. proposal also:
- Provides an excellent pavement design that will add five years to the life of the roadway and create a smoother surface for motorists;
- Contains well-defined strategies to improve safety for workers and the public, including the use of temporary concrete barrier walls during construction;
- Exceeds the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) goal by $1 million; and
- Proposes a planned completion date 44 days ahead of the technical requirement.
