By Jerry Curry, Staff Writer

The Pekin bridge has been a bottle neck for a long time and the butt of many sarcastic Facebook jokes. The project is an Indiana Department Of Transportation (INDOT) project.

The bridge is a complete replacement project, located on S.R. 60 over the South Fork of the Blue River. Dealing with one lane during rush-hour createds a long line of cars and trucks. Motorist are at the mercy of the automated lights.

IDOT said the project began Spring of 2022. The contractor on the bridge is Beaty Construction.

IDOT spends millions of dollars on Washington County roads.

This bridge job and one in Clark County are part of a $5.1 million improvement project.

The bridge in Clark County is also on Highway 60 over Money’s Branch (4.1 west of Grant Line Rd) and will begin in July 2024. Temporary signals will also control traffic at this location through the Fall.

According to IDOT the reasons given for the longevity of the Pekin bridge project are supply chain issues and, of course, weather conditions.

The new completion date is July 2024. Hang in there!