PTRA.net

INVESTMENT WILL RESULT IN IMPROVED PUBLIC SAFETY AND IMPROVED CONNECTIVITY INDIANAPOLIS – Mayor Greg Ballard today announced the rehabilitation of the 56th Street bridge over Eagle Creek Reservoir. City-County Councillor Janice McHenry joined Mayor Ballard in announcing the 56th Street bridge project, which will be constructed by Janssen and Spaans Engineering Inc. and will cost approximately $1,154,400.

“Historically the City rehabilitates two to three bridges each year. The 56th Street bridge project is one of the 27 bridges we are rehabilitating through the RebuildIndy initiative this year alone,” said Mayor Ballard. “Thousands of motorists travel over our City’s bridges each day. Because of this, improvements to our bridges are more than just simple infrastructure improvements – they are a matter of public safety.

The improvements to the 56th Street bridge will include complete rehabilitation and replacement of the existing deck and railings. The project will coincide with other planned projects for the causeway across the reservoir, including a lift station, force main project and resurfacing project. Residents will notice better driving conditions and greater safety for area drivers and commuters.

“Knowing that in the past there were two to three bridges rehabilitated throughout the county and that this year there will be three bridges out of 27 repaired in my district is very exciting,” said Councillor McHenry. “These bridges are all long overdue for improvements. Knowing that at least one more bridge is scheduled for next year along with all of the repaving projects is such an improvement for this area of the city.”

Traffic will be limited to one lane in each direction during the construction project, which is expected to be completed in Fall 2011. For more information about the RebuildIndy program, visit www.indy.gov/RebuildIndy. To request a RebuildIndy project in your area, call the Mayor’s Action Center at (317) 327-4MAC (4622). Residents also may follow RebuildIndy project updates on Twitter via @RebuildIndy.

Residents encouraged to properly dispose of household hazardous waste

INDIANAPOLIS – As part of efforts to make Indianapolis one of the most sustainable, livable cities in the Midwest, the City of Indianapolis is sponsoring ToxAway Day from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, August 13, at Butler University’s Hinkle Fieldhouse.

“ToxAway Day encourages residents to properly dispose of all of their unwanted and unused household hazardous waste,” said Mayor Greg Ballard. “This event is part of the City’s ToxDrop program, which has diverted annually in excess of 1 million pounds of waste from the City’s sewers, waterways and landfills.”

Through periodic ToxAway Day events and year-round collection site locations, the ToxDrop Program has made significant advancements to help residents properly and safely dispose of household hazardous waste. Examples of ToxDrop materials include antifreeze, batteries, brake fluid, drain cleaners, fluorescent light bulbs, glue and adhesives, household thermometers, paints, paint thinner, pesticides, pool chemicals, toilet bowl cleaners, used motor oil and gasoline.

Please visit www.indy.gov/toxdrop to learn more about the City’s ToxDrop Program and what is acceptable at the ToxAway Day event.

High Water Usage for Lawn Irrigation Continues; Weather Forecast Includes Little Rain

INDIANAPOLIS – Indianapolis Water is extending its voluntary request for both residential and non-residential customers to stop watering lawns through Friday, August 5. The extension comes in the wake of forecasted temperatures remaining in the 90s, a continued lack of rain, and high water consumption.

Indianapolis Water issued its initial voluntary request 10 days ago and extended it last weekend; water consumption, mostly for lawn irrigation, has remained high and is stressing the underground infrastructure.

“We’re continuing to monitor water usage across the service territory and comparing it to the weather forecast,” said Matthew Klein, executive director of the Indianapolis Department of Waterworks, owner of Indianapolis Water. “With little or no rain in the forecast and temperatures remaining in the 90s, we continue to be concerned about the effects of excessive lawn-watering on the above- and below-ground infrastructure critical to the delivery of drinking water and fire protection.”

The request to voluntarily refrain from lawn watering is for all customers, including individual residential customers, apartment complexes, commercial parks, and industrial facilities.

”The National Weather Service indicates that we are in an abnormally dry period, which is no surprise,” Klein added. “We are seeing an increase in main failures. We need everybody to pitch in and help ensure our water system can keep up with the increased demand for drinking water during this period.”

Indianapolis Water will re-evaluate the voluntary request next Friday and make a determination about whether to extend or relax the request at that time.

On an average day, Indianapolis Water pumps 140 million gallons of clean, fresh drinking water. Consumption in the IW service territory has been at or above 200 million gallons per day almost every day since July 11.

The Department of Waterworks owns and manages Indianapolis Water, which serves nearly one million people in central Indiana, and contracts the system’s operation to Veolia Water Indianapolis.