INDOT: I-64 Closures on Sherman Minton Bridge This Weekend

The City of New Albany received a press release from the Indiana Department of Transportation regarding closures on the Sherman Minton Bridge this weekend (starting 9/14/18). The full press release is below.

INDOT: I-64 Closures on Sherman Minton Bridge This Weekend

Indiana Department of Transportation’s contractor for pavement repairs on the Sherman Minton bridge has revised its scheduled operation for this weekend’s lane closures. Instead of restricting a single lane of Interstate 64 in each direction, E & B Paving requires closing two eastbound I-64 lanes to accommodate pavement patching on the lower bridge deck.

The Clarksville-based contractor will mill and jackhammer identified problem pavement locations on the Sherman Minton bridge’s eastbound right and center lanes, then pour concrete patches.

This weekend’s eastbound I-64 double lane closure will now begin at 9 p.m. Friday (SEPT 14). Motorists have continuous bridge access from New Albany to Louisville via the remaining open lane – which will be restricted to eleven feet in width. All I-64 lanes will be open to traffic by 5 a.m. Monday (SEPT 17). No upper deck/westbound I-64 lanes will be impacted.

INDOT anticipates single-lane closures in each direction on the 2,053-foot-long Sherman Minton bridge during subsequent weekend hours between 7 p.m. Fridays through 6 a.m. Mondays.

Motorists should anticipate significant traffic queues. Traffic count at the bridge exceeds 90,000 vehicles per day.

Motorists can learn about highway work zones and other traffic alerts at indot.carsprorgram.org, 1-800-261-ROAD (7623) or 511 from a mobile phone. For highway information, monitor social media sites: www.Facebook.com/INDOTSoutheast and Twitter @INDOTSoutheast. Subscribe to receive text and email alerts at https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/INDOT/subscriber/new

Customer Service:
1-855-463-6848
www.indot4u.com
indot@indot.IN.gov

Slate Run Road Improvement Project

Work will begin soon on the long-anticipated Slate Run Road Improvement Project. This infrastructure improvement project aims to bring bike lanes, improve drainage and stormwater systems, full curbs and gutters, and 5 foot sidewalks on both sides of the roadway.

“Like most residents in New Albany, and especially those who live along Slate Run Road, I am excited about the improvements scheduled to begin,” stated Mayor Jeff Gahan. “And like most road and drainage projects, it will be messy, but we will get through it. We will also be monitoring the construction to make sure it goes as quickly and safely as possible.”

Prior to the full project beginning, water and electric utility companies are currently working on relocations of their lines to accommodate the project. Some lane shifts or closures may be expected with the utility relocation work as needed.

The roadway itself will undergo patching and repairing, and full reconstruction will take place in areas where necessary to fully repair the roadway. A new surface will be applied to the length of the roadway from Charlestown Road to Lochwood Apartments.

This work is expected to be completed before students return to Slate Run Elementary for the 2019 school year.

Zoning Ordinance Set to be Updated for First Time in Nearly 50 Years

For the first time since 1971, a full-scale replacement zoning ordinance is set to go before the New Albany City Council for approval. The ordinance has been carefully crafted by a team consisting of the New Albany City Planning staff, City Council members, and qualified consultants. The proposed ordinance simplifies the existing zoning districts into 10 easy-to-understand districts derived from the recently adopted Comprehensive Plan.

“This action is long overdue, and we are excited to bring the first Zoning update to the council in nearly 50 years,” stated Mayor Jeff Gahan. “This ordinance incorporates the best qualities of our recently adopted Comprehensive Plan and sets a sound path for future development and redevelopment of New Albany.”

TO READ THE FULL DRAFT ORDINANCE, PLEASE CLICK HERE

Open Door Meetings Scheduled to Gather Public Input

Three open-door style meetings have been scheduled to gather valuable feedback from residents and business owners in New Albany. We encourage you to attend one of the following meetings:

1. Tuesday, August 28, 2018 from 2:00 – 4:00 PM
   Strassweg Auditorium, NAFC Public Library
2. Tuesday, August 28, 2018 from 6:00 – 8:00 PM
   Griffin Street Recreation Center
3. Thursday, September 6, 2018 from 6:00 – 8:00 PM
   Hazelwood Middle School Cafeteria
   (You must enter Hazelwood through Door 8 by the cafeteria, on Beeler Street closest to Buerk Field)

A public hearing will also be held by the New Albany City Plan Commission on Tuesday, September 18th, at 7:00 PM in the third floor assembly room of the City County Building (311 Hauss Square).

Mayor Gahan Meets with HUD Officials to Discuss Local Public Housing

Yesterday afternoon, Mayor Gahan met with Kimberly Wize and Catherine Lamberg from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), as well as staff from Senator Donnelly’s office, to discuss the current state of public housing in New Albany. After the meeting, the group spent several hours touring public housing properties, so that HUD officials could learn more about their conditions.

“It was a very good meeting with our HUD officials, and I’m pleased that they were able to come tour the properties to learn more about the current condition of our public housing stock and the issues that we are facing,” stated Mayor Jeff Gahan.

HUD officials were complimentary on the recent evacuation of Riverview Towers after the electrical systems failed, stating that they appreciated the efforts from both NAHA and city of New Albany staff.

Engineers work to restore power to the property.

The temporary solution to restore power to residents in Riverview Tower.

Mayor Gahan speaks with residents of Riverview Tower.

“We want to thank everyone involved in the evacuation and associated services that were needed by the residents of Riverview Towers,” stated Mayor Gahan.

The Best Western in New Albany and the Radisson in Jeffersonville have provided temporary housing to residents, Mathes Pharmacy has assisted with residents’ medical needs, Hope Southern Indiana has donated food and supplies to residents, and many other groups and organizations have come together to help see the residents through this hardship.

Electrical engineers have found a temporary solution to restore power to all floors. Residents have begun moving back in after the New Albany Building Commissioner, David Brewer, inspected the property. Engineers are still working to install the temporary solution to all floors, and are still searching for a permanent solution.

“We are still working with HUD for a long-term, sustainable solution to the improve our housing stock,” stated Mayor Gahan.

Systems Failure Causes Evacuation of Riverview Towers

At this morning’s Board of Public Works and Safety meeting, New Albany Building Commissioner David Brewer issued a notice of unsafe structure for the Riverview Towers property owned by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Last week, a small fire caused Riverview Towers to lose all air conditioning systems. Yesterday morning, further damage caused the electrical systems for the building to fail. A permanent fix for the electrical failure is still being worked on by electrical engineers. It is currently unknown how long it will take to repair the system. As a result of the electrical system failing, residents were evacuated to temporary residences

“Years of neglect and reduced funding at the national level has finally caught up with the HUD properties in New Albany,” stated Mayor Jeff Gahan. “We are striving to change the current model to better serve our city’s needs before these types of failures cause injury. The citizens of New Albany deserve better and we are making progress, but we have a long way to go. We will need help from local, state, and federal officials to make the types of changes and improvements we need.”

Based on the recent failure of the electrical systems, New Albany Building Commissioner David Brewer has determined the building to be unsafe and uninhabitable.

“In order to protect the safety of residents, I am issuing a notice to vacate the Riverview Towers,” stated Building Commissioner David Brewer. “To protect the life and safety of residents of Riverview Towers, the property will need to pass a full inspection before any occupants will be allowed to move back into the property.”

Working with the New Albany Housing Authority, residents will still be allowed access to their apartments in Riverview Towers to gather belongings or supplies.

“We will be working with HUD and the New Albany Housing Authority to make sure the safety and needs of residents of the Riverview property are taken care of first and foremost as we begin to evaluate the maintenance recommendations for the building,” stated Mayor Gahan.