BEDFORD — Lawrence County Highway Superintendent Brian Sowder delivered a series of infrastructure and winter preparation updates to the county commissioners on Monday morning, highlighting a major state grant award alongside upcoming workforce training initiatives.
Sowder announced that the county officially received $325,824.80 in state funding through the Community Crossings Matching Grant Program. Out of three road improvement proposals submitted by the county highway department for grant consideration, state officials approved funding to repave Dunn Bridge Road from Pleasant Run Road to Bartlettsville Road.
Asphalt paving work for Dunn Bridge Road is scheduled to begin in the spring. To meet state grant compliance guidelines, the county must complete the official project contract within 90 days.
Commercial Driver Training & Workforce Development
In addition to road funding, Sowder presented an ordinance to the commissioners that would establish a funding mechanism for county employees to receive Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) training and official licensing.
To streamline the licensing process, the Highway Department has contracted a training vendor to deliver CDL instruction directly on-site at the highway garage.
Winter Weather Prep & Snowplow Safety
With colder weather approaching, highway crews have begun hauling and stockpiling salt and sand supplies across county storage facilities.
Additionally, the Purdue University Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP) is scheduled to visit Lawrence County on November 17. Purdue LTAP specialists will provide technical assistance, road management resources, and specialized workforce and snowplow driver training for county highway staff ahead of the winter season.
