Legal Advertisement
DES# 2000230, 2000276,
& 2000290
The Indiana Department
of Transportation is plan-
ning to undertake the SR
7 Roadway Improve-
ments Project (Des. No.
2000230, 2000276, and
2000290), funded in part
by the Federal Highway
Administration. The proj-
ect begins at the inter-
section of SR 7 and US
50 in North Vernon, Jen-
nings County, Indiana.
From this point, the proj-
ect extends north and
west along SR 7 for ap-
proximately 14.5 miles
before terminating ap-
proximately 0.10 mile
northwest of the inter-
section with US 31. The
project also extends ap-
proximately 0.19 mile
north and 0.10 mile
south along US 31 from
the intersection with SR
7. The project will in-
volve widening SR 7
throughout the project
area to include
8-foot-wide shoulders
(6-foot paved and 2-foot
gravel). Additionally, in
four locations the corri-
dor would be widened
from two travel lanes
(one in each direction) to
three travel lanes (one
travel lane in each direc-
tion and an auxiliary
lane). The auxiliary lane
would consist of one ad-
ditional travel lane in ei-
ther the northbound or
southbound direction
and would not be contin-
uous throughout the cor-
ridor. Within the unincor-
porated community of
Scipio, reconstruction of
existing sidewalks and
replacement of curb
ramps would also be
completed. The SR 7
over Fishers Fork
(Bridge No.
007-03-06555) would be
widened as a result of
the project. Small struc-
tures would be replaced
or extended throughout
the project corridor to ac-
commodate the widened
roadway sections noted
above. Intersection im-
provements at SR 7 and
the intersections of US
31, CR 525 E, CR 700
W, CR 600 N, CR 500
N, Geneva Road, an US
50 would occur. County
roads and private drives
would also be recon-
structed to tie into SR 7.
Eco Lake Park is located
at 9300 State Highway
7, Elizabethtown, Indi-
ana 47232, adjacent to
the project area within
Jennings County. The
park is owned by the
Jennings County Parks
and Recreation Depart-
ment and is open to the
public. Based on the
public ownership and
recreation use, Eco Lake
Park is considered a 4(f)
property. The project will
require the acquisition of
approximately 0.376
acre of permanent
right-of-way for the
shoulder widening and to
construct a roadside
ditch. The project will re-
quire the acquisition of
approximately 0.161
acre of temporary
right-of-way for the relo-
cation of the landscap-
ing, park sign, and the
drive reconstruction. Ad-
ditionally, the project will
require the reacquisition
of approximately 0.558
acre of apparent
right-of-way for con-
struction. Access to the
park will be maintained
throughout construction.
The designed action will
not adversely impact the
activities, features, and
attributes that qualify the
property for protection
under Section 4(f) of the
Department of Transpor-
tation Act of 1966 and in
accordance with
SAFETEA-LU Section
6009 (a). As such, it is
the intent of INDOT,
along with the Federal
Highway Administration
to issue a finding of de
minimis. In accordance
with SAFETEA-LU Sec-
tion 6009 (a), the views
of the public are being
sought regarding the ef-
fect of the proposed proj-
ect on the public recre-
ational area. Please re-
spond with any com-
ments no later than Sep-
tember 4, 2026 to the
contact information be-
low.
Alyssa Kern, American
Structurepoint, Inc.,
9025 River Road, Suite
200, Indianapolis, IN
46240, Ph. (317)
547-5580, Fax (317)
543-0270,
[email protected] or Dakota Collins,
INDOT Project Manager,
Ph. (812) 569-7522,
email
[email protected].
60162574
R 08-05-2026