Shovel ready projects in Terre Haute

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - If you look around Terre Haute, lots of projects seem shovel ready; infrastructure projects, bridges and roads that just need manpower and funding to be completed.

But getting stimulus money here is more complicated.

Only two projects in the city of Terre Haute are shovel ready: The Brown Boulevard extensions. Phase one extends Brown Avenue from Locust up to Maple. Phase two extends Brown Avenue from Locust down to Wabash.

Mayor Bennett said the stimulus bill is full of restrictions, so not many projects qualify as shovel ready.

"To be truly shovel ready, you have to have engineering drawings, you basically have to have the thing totally designed," said Terre Haute Mayor Duke Bennett. Then you have to have your environmental work done and you have to have all your property acquisition done."

If a project receives any federal funding, it's not eligible for stimulus money.

One example is the Margaret Avenue work from 3rd Street to 7th Street. This project is receiving federal money, so it does not qualify.

Then there's the application process to submit projects for funding.

"We've been notified by the governor's office this week that you will do an online application," said Mayor Bennett. "Then the state will make their determinations about which projects qualify and which don't."

Mayor Bennett's heading to Washington, DC ,next week to talk to lawmakers and try to bring a fair share of stimulus dollars to Terre Haute.

He said any stimulus money will help, but the windfall folks are hoping for may not be headed our way.

Mayor Bennett also said lots of Web sites listing projects in the area as shovel ready are not accurate.