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 Mullinix Road and Morgantown Road.
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County officials are considering taking control of portions of three state roads in exchange for $35 million in funding to widen Smith Valley Road.
The Indiana Department of Transportation has 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, said Luke Mastin, the county’s highway director.
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, Mastin told the Johnson County Board of Commissioners on Monday.
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.
Officials are concerned about the proposal’s impacts, though.
Commissioner Ron West expressed concerns about five planned INDOT projects on these roads, and how they would be impacted by the relinquishment. Most of the projects involve bridge work on State Road 144, with another bridge project — a structure replacement on State Road 44 — also planned. The fifth project involves repaving State Road 252 at a cost of $3.8 million, according to county documents.
Under the proposal, if the roads are relinquished, INDOT would stop its work on the projects, and the county would have to foot the bill, Mastin said.
The county does not have funding available for the projects, but should ensure they are completed because INDOT has identified there is a need for them, and the county does not have to follow INDOT’s current timelines to do so, Mastin said.
Another concern is manpower. If the county agrees to take control of the roads, 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, according to county documents.
The county could also apply for federal funding for the five projects, but the county would still need to be able to match the funds, county documents show.
“We need the $35 million (from INDOT). There’s no question about that,” West said. “I’m just concerned about taking on 23 center-line miles of state roads and how we’re going to maintain those going forward.”
West also asked Mastin if the highway department had considered changing its plans for roundabouts up and down Smith Valley Road to try to find extra funding. Mastin told the board it would not offer a significant funding option for the widening. The roundabouts will provide options for traffic restrictions, such as no left turns at some intersections, to avoid potential accidents.
Commissioner Kevin Walls, who has been part of the discussions with Mastin and other highway department officials, said the situation with INDOT is still fluid. Walls has some timing issues with INDOT, which he plans to discuss with the agency, he said.
The goal of introducing the proposal on Monday was to put it on officials’ radar as an option to be considered, Mastin said. No decisions were made.
