INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb says he is “incredibly stoked” to announce a list of infrastructure projects that will get funding over the next five years.
The Republican governor made the comment at a news conference Thursday morning, unveiling his Next Level Road Plan.
Holcomb and the GOP-dominated Legislature made raising taxes to pay for infrastructure projects a top priority this year.
During the legislative session that ended in April they approved a package that hikes more than 40 taxes and fees, including a 10 cent per gallon increase in Indiana’s fuel tax.
The money will only get lawmakers part of the way toward realizing their goal.
They expect that they will need to begin tolling some interstates in the coming years to truly cover the state’s needs.
The project includes numerous road improvements to regional roadways. Kosciusko County is getting a large chunk of funding as part of the Next Level Road Plan. Around $41.3 million in road projects is scheduled for the next five years in the county. That includes about $5 million just next year. There’s only five projects slated to get funding next year, but the one that’s taking $4.4 million of the money is U.S 30 between State Roads 5 and 13.
22 road projects are slated to get funding in 2018 in Elkhart County. Most of the projects are bridge projects along U.S. 20. Over $45 million will be invested in the county in the next five years.
In Marshall County, about $25 million in improvements is planned, with over $10 million in 2018. Over half of that $10 million in 2018 will go towards improvements on three different sections of U.S. 31.
45 road projects in St. Joseph County alone are slated to be funded in 2018, and over $48 million worth of work will be done in the next five years. Among the St. Joseph County projects on the list is about $11 million for the replacement of the State Road 933 and State Road 23 bridges over the St. Joseph River.
For a complete breakdown, check out the full report here below.
Next Level Road Plan Full by Tom Franklin on Scribd
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
