INDOT plans $11 million project through downtown Vevay
The Indiana Department of Transportation is proceeding with plans for a major project running through the Town of Vevay.
INDOT was scheduled to hold a public meeting on the project yesterday (Wednesday, October 18th) at Switzerland County High School. This public meeting is part of the ongoing process that will lead to major work being done to sections of State Road 56 and State Road 156 running through Vevay.
The Fact Sheet that has been produced for the project was to be available at yesterday’s meeting, and it also available for download on the Town of Vevay’s website www.vevaytownhall.org.
The “Pavement Rehabilitation” project will begin west of Vevay near Maple Street, and run through town to the stop light; and then continue east as State Road 156 to the Vevay Cemetery. It will also encompass Ferry Street in Vevay, with work happening both to the south towards the Paul Ogle Riverfront Park; and to the north as State Road 56 just up Vevay Hill.
Vevay Clerk Treasurer Brandi Scudder said that the project will include the removal and replacement of all of the sidewalks in Vevay; new storm drains through town; and other improvements.
“INDOT has already gone through all of the environmental studies — and I think everything is good there,” Scudder said. “There are trees in front of the Swiss Inn that have to be removed, but because they’re historical, we have to have a plaque, some signage on the outside area of the Swiss Inn for those trees.”
A total of 26 trees will be removed as part of the project.
The fact sheet says that the project will include curb ramps that will be ADA compliant and will remove current trip hazards; the brick pavers currently in place in the sidewalks will be replaced with stamped concrete for easier maintenance; new sidewalks will match the current locations and elevations of business and storefront entrances; and the existing pear trees that line downtown will be removed and not replaced.
INDOT pledges that historic features of the area will be protected during construction; with vaults and coal chutes remaining capped by the sidewalk with cast iron openings being placed back.
The timeline of the project calls for permits being submitted this month; land acquisition will happen from November of 2023 through August of 2024; pre-final plans are expected in February of next year; with final bid documents going out in June of 2024.
The bid opening will happen in October of 2024; with construction ongoing from the late fall of 2024 through the fall of 2026. Normal delays could push the beginning of construction back until the beginning of 2025.
The project carries a price tag of just over $11 million.