The city of Columbus is asking the Indiana Department of Transportation for an overpass that will take Jonathan Moore Pike/State Road 46 over both the railroad tracks and State Road 11 at the Second and Third Street bridges.
That is different than previous plans, which would have only lifted the eastbound lanes over just the railroad tracks.
The city is going through several efforts to reduce the effect of increased train traffic on the community. The Louisville and Indiana Railroad tracks are being leased to CSX railroad and in the next few years are expected to carry up to one train an hour, and those trains would be about two-thirds of a mile long.
John Dorenbusch, who represents the Columbus Redevelopment Commission on the railroad steering committee, unveiled the new proposal at this week’s Redevelopment Commission meeting. The plan would still cost in the neighborhood of $25-30 million dollars.
Dorenbusch said the city had presented the revised plan to INDOT and Dave Hayward, the city engineer, said they should have a response in weeks. Although city officials have said that even if they get on the INDOT project list, it could be years before the work is slated.
Dorenbusch also showed a new proposal to move the railroad tracks further west, taking them away from the downtown area. That proposal would still use the new overpass location, but would push the train tracks further out of the city, requiring a new bridge over the Driftwood River. That proposal would cost up to $100 million dollars Dorenbusch said.
The commission approved a contract with former Louisville and Indiana Railroad President John Secor to develop a plan for railroad quiet zones through the city. That contract was for up to $11,500 not including expenses.