Lafayette to advertise $3.4M South Street railroad-crossing reconstruction; bids expected in April

The Lafayette Redevelopment Commission granted staff permission Feb. 26 to advertise the South Street Railroad Crossing project, a corridor reconstruction planned to resume where the Sagamore Parkway work ended and extend to the Century Place/ Farabee intersection.

Project manager Jake Goodman summarized the scope: full-depth pavement reconstruction, raised landscape medians, a trail on both sides of South Street to the Century Place intersection, curb ramps, improved signalized intersections and a dedicated left-turn lane at Hammond Drive that will restrict Hammond to right-in, right-out movements. Goodman said the city has coordinated with the railroad and was at about 90% engineering review, with final railroad approval still pending.

Staff proposed advertising the project in March, with bid letting at the April meeting, a special meeting April 30 to award the contract and a planned construction start in May. The bulk of construction work is expected over the summer with an intermediate completion target in August; Goodman warned that long lead times for signal poles could delay final signal completion even if roadway work finishes earlier.

A commissioner asked about the construction estimate; staff said the current construction estimate was about $3,400,000. Board members emphasized coordinating timing to minimize impact during Purdue University breaks and confirmed ongoing negotiation with the railroad over crossing materials and improvements.

The commission voted to grant staff permission to advertise the project and to receive bids at the April meeting, with a special meeting planned for award and notice to proceed.