ANDERSON — As the idea of a reservoir continues to evolve in the minds of policymakers and residents of Madison County, the picture of what it could look like is also unfolding.
One of the impacts of the finished product will likely be an alteration of six bridges in the project area, according to Rob Sparks, executive director of the Madison County Corporation for Economic Development. The six spans represent a significant portion of nine bridges in Madison County and three in Delaware county in the project area.
“We think they’ll all have to be raised,” Sparks said. “Right now, we don’t think any of the others will be affected.”
According to project notes, all transportation agencies will require input and coordination on the approval of the removal, replacement or re-routing of any bridges.
The project itself is a proposed 2,100-acre body of water, dubbed Mounds Lake Reservoir, along the White River beginning just east of East Lynn and 18th streets in Anderson and backing water up seven miles into Delaware County to around County Road 300 South and South High Banks Road.
The project was endorsed by the Madison County Chamber of Commerce in a press release on Monday. Chamber president Kyle Morey said the reservoir will provide an economic boost and quality-of-life benefits to the area.
According to Sparks, the bridges tagged to be raised are on County Roads 400 and 500, Greenhill Way and Indiana 32 near the Anderson Airport, South Rangeline Road near Mounds State Park, and on South Scatterfield Road. Sparks said the funds for the alteration of any bridges will be included in the budget for the plan, which is expected to cost between $300 million and $350 million, according to early estimates.
The budget would also cover any new bridges that might be built as a result of the project. One early concept projected the bridge over Scatterfield Road moving to run over the head of a dam, which is part of the plan. However, Sparks said the addition of any bridges can’t be discussed until the planning stage of the project is complete. He said recreational components, waterway usability and connection to local communities will play into the building of new bridges.
“The final project itself will be the deciding factor on what, if any, bridges are made,” Sparks said. “Traffic flow will determine a lot of it.”
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