Commission hears report on contractor delays, NDOT pressure and local development questions

A committee member reported to the City of Washington Redevelopment Commission on July 16, 2026, that contractor performance problems on a state-funded highway project are delaying completion and drawing pressure from the Indiana Department of Transportation (NDOT).

The committee member described repeated excuses from the prime contractor, subcontractors pulling off the job and a recent change in the contractor’s project manager. “They haven’t been on-site,” the committee member said, and later added, “They’re already 2 months past. $5,000 a day is what it's gonna cost them until it's done,” describing a deadline set by the state and the possibility of per-day penalties. The committee member said NDOT has pushed for corrective work on problem spots — including dips near 11th Street — and discussed technical repair steps such as heating asphalt before using a straight edge.

Commissioners also raised questions about whether newly built apartments near Casey’s are included in the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). The committee member noted nearby Harbor Springs development with about 72 new units expected to be finished by fall and said they were uncertain whether a particular unit next to Casey’s was in the TIP area.

The report did not result in a formal motion or directive recorded in the transcript. The chair and commissioners said they would continue to press the contractor and observe remediation work; the commission adjourned after routine business and set its next meeting for Sept. 17, 2026.