This maps shows the sections of State Roads 44, 144 and 252 that could be relinquished from state to county control under an Indiana Department of Transportation proposal. If the roads are relinquished, Johnson County would receive $35 million in funding for widening Smith Valley Road between Mullinx Road and Morgantown Road.
Johnson County officials are planning to hold a special meeting later this month to discuss a proposal to take control of portions of three state roads in exchange for $35 million in funding to widen Smith Valley Road.
Last month, the Indiana Department of Transportation offered to relinquish control of portions of State Roads 44, 144 and 252 in exchange for about $35 million in federal funding to widen Smith Valley Valley Road near Interstate 69. The road would be widened to four lanes, which would cost about $55.6 million. Under this proposal, INDOT would pay for the majority of the project, officials said last month.
Control and maintenance of State Road 44 between Franklin and the Morgan County line; State Road 144 between Franklin and Bargersville; and State Road 252 between U.S. 31 and Trafalgar — 23.4 miles in all — would be transferred to the county from the state. Officials have been having discussions with INDOT for a while, looking at possible funding avenues for the project, and INDOT came forward with the proposal as an option, Highway Director Luke Mastin told the Johnson County Board of Commissioners last month.
Under the proposed agreement, INDOT would pay for the design and construction of widening Smith Valley Road between Mullinix Road and Morgantown Road, with construction beginning in 2027-28. It would also pay about $550,000 for right-of-way acquisitions, and would partially fund additional construction with whatever remains from the $35 million, according to county documents.
The county would still be responsible for about $20.6 million, including $19.5 million for construction costs, $1.15 million for remaining right-of-way acquisitions and any costs beyond the initial estimates, county documents show.
The proposal has caveats, however. If the roads are relinquished, INDOT would stop its work on construction projects currently planned for the roads, leaving the county to foot the bill. The highway department would need additional winter maintenance resources including two new truck drivers, at $63,000 a year each, and a new truck for the department’s main fleet — an estimated $200,000 expense, as well, according to county documents.
On Monday the county council held a short discussion on road needs throughout the county. During the discussion, Mastin informed officials that the county would need to make a decision on the proposal by the end of this month. The short decision turn around coincides with INDOT’s deadline for fund obligation, which is May, a month prior to the end of the state’s fiscal year, Mastin said.
If the county fails to meet this deadline, the county would have to fund design and engineering for the project with local tax dollars. About $3.2 million would be at risk, said Kevin Walls, county commissioner.
However, if there is confidence among the Board of Commissioners that at the minimum, the county could pay the $20 million needed to finish Smith Valley Road, a decision could be made before the end of this month. Though the funding would bring significant funds for the one of the highway department’s highest priority projects, it has strings attached, Mastin said.
“We need to be able to make that commitment to finish that project out if we are going to accept the relinquishment,” Mastin said.
County officials have negotiated the INDOT deal as far as they could take it. The county council has to come up with a solution that can make officials comfortable with moving forward. Walls said he believes some of the relinquishment is tied to what funding sources the county has available for the project.
“That lays it in your lap to come to us and say ‘Yes, we can fund this $20 million,’” Walls said. “I can’t go on (and say) ‘Maybe we’ll do it, maybe we won’t.’ It stops it right in the middle of the road.”
Following the discussion, the county council agreed to hold a special meeting to discuss the proposal and commitments in more detail and to come up with a final solution. The special meeting is tentatively set for April 20 at 3 p.m. in the auditorium at the west county annex, 86 W Court St., Franklin.
