Bridge at Skinner Lake to be repaired in 2026

Grace Caswell, Secretary for the Noble County Parks and Recreation Board of Directors, says the organization has reviewed early planning documentation for an upcoming bridge repair in Noble County and has issued a statement of support for the project.

Acting on behalf of Noble County's taxpayers, the unfunded Parks and Recreation Department's volunteer Board of Directors works to serve stakeholders through cooperative efforts with other Parks and Recreation entities across the county. Its mission is to inventory existing recreational opportunities and determine future needs to serve the unincorporated area of the county.

Federal Highway Administration funding is making it possible for the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) to make repairs to a bridge on State Road 8, east of Albion, where it crosses over Rimmel Branch, the water source that feeds into Skinner Lake.

Location of bridge repairs slated for 2026.

The concrete slab structure, built in 1989, needs repaired due to deterioration of the underside of the superstructure. A failure of the epoxy coating on steel piles will also be addressed with new encasements. Construction is expected to begin in Spring 2026 and last about three months.

The Noble County Parks and Recreation Board was contacted to weigh in, as an "environmental reviewer," during early coordination efforts. In a response, the Board encouraged INDOT to coordinate with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources regarding a public access site located approximately 800 feet northwest of the subject bridge. No specific concerns about the project were noted.