By PAULENE POPARAD

It was announced Tuesday that the town of Porter conditionally has been approved to receive a $100,000 grant through the state’s Lake Michigan Coastal Program.

The money would be applied to the cost of a bridge over the Little Calumet River along the proposed Orchard Pedestrian Way hike/bike trail on Waverly Road.

The Porter Redevelopment Commission acknowledged receipt of a letter from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources indicating the conditional approval with final word on the grant due about July 1 after additional reviews take place. The money would be part of the DNR’s 2006 grant cycle.

The town would have to provide a $100,000 local match to receive the money. The grant will be used for a required bridge over the Little Calumet River and elevated walkways north and south of the bridge, which is expected to cost about $300,000 for the structures.

The town several years ago received an approximately $800,000 grant for the unbuilt trail that will extend from Woodlawn Avenue north along Waverly to U.S. 20. Land appraisals of a few small parcels needed for the project are under way.

Two weeks ago the town engineer was asked to investigate the feasibility of buying a dismantled, surplus World War II Bailey bridge now stored in Illinois to cross the Little Calumet. Last night, engineer Tim Haas said, “So far we’ve not gotten good news.” He said the bridge is somewhat deteriorated and while he’s not ready to say forget it, there are more questions than answers at this time.

By consensus the Redevelopment Commission with member Al Raffin absent authorized Haas to pursue application by the April 15 deadline for a federal highway grant, possibly to pay for Orchard Way improvements over Interstate 94. Both a separate pedestrian bridge or upgrading the existing vehicular bridge over I-94 are being studied. Either way, said Haas after the meeting, that work is expected to cost more than $400,000.

The town temporarily is without the services of a grant writer after not renewing last year’s contract. Applications were received and a selection will be made soon.

In related bike-trail news, Redevelopment Commission member Paul Childress said the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore wants the planned but unbuilt Porter Brickyard Trail to cross U.S. 12 in a tunnel as opposed to an elevated pedestrian bridge. The tunnel option would be less expensive than going overhead, which was estimated to be about $300,000.

March 14 the commission authorized the Duneland Group to pursue approvals for construction of a tunnel under U.S. 20 at Howe Road, a tunnel Childress said doesn’t have to be as large as originally thought. The commission has scheduled a meeting April 11 at 5 p.m. with Howe Road residents to discuss the tunnel plan, which would require the eastbound travel lane of Howe to become a one-way and closure of the westbound lane.

The Brickyard Trail is estimated to cost about $2.4 million even though the route has been changed several times; $1.9 million in federal grants previously were awarded about five years ago for that project.

Redevelopment Commission President Bill Sexton announced the town has received $300,787 plus $2,808 in interest in overdue 2005 property taxes earmarked for the tax-increment financing or TIF district the commission oversees. The town’s local share of the bike trails’ costs comes from TIF funds.

Posted 3/29/2006