The Indiana Department of Transportation will hold a public hearing for the proposed SR 5 Bridge project over the Eel River. The meeting will begin at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 5, at the South Whitley Community Public Library, 201 E. Front St., South Whitley.

The purpose of the hearing is to offer all interested persons an opportunity to comment on current design plans and the environmental document for the SR 5 Bridge over the Eel River, located in Whitley County. The proposed rehabilitation of the bridge involves widening and replacing the existing deck with lanes that are 12 feet wide lanes.

The existing bridge rail and sidewalk will be replaced and ornamental street lights will be reset on top of the new bridge rail. The bridge is proposed to be closed during construction to vehicular traffic.

The detour route will use SR 14 to SR 13 to SR 114. Further details, such as the tentative timetables for the construction, will be discussed during the formal presentation.

The concrete arch bridge, built in 1935, is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. As part of the Indiana Historic Bridge Inventory project, the bridge was determined to be select. Select bridges are those that are most suitable for preservation and are excellent examples of a given type of historic bridge.

Public statements for the record will be taken as part of the public hearing procedure. All verbal statements recorded during the public hearing and all written comments collected before, during and for a period of two weeks after the hearing date, will be evaluated and addressed in the final environmental document.

Written comments may be submitted prior to the public hearing and within the comment period to: Public Hearings, Indiana Government Center North, Room N642, 100 N. Senate Ave., Indianapolis.