Broad Ripple residents blindsided by new construction project

Indianapolis, Indiana – Some locals are dismayed to learn that a major route into and out of Broad Ripple Village will soon close, adding to their already-present tiredness after months of construction.

Westfield Boulevard will close on January 8th, according to the Indianapolis Department of Public Works, so that workers may repair a bridge that crosses a canal.

The Broad Ripple Village Association’s executive director, Jordan Dillon, stated that she hasn’t heard about the proposal since April.

“The utility relocation is scheduled to start on Monday and we are just now having this public meeting on Thursday, a couple of days before. We’ve got concerns about the timeline, we have concerns about the detour.”

The authorized detour travels up 75th Street, across College Avenue, and finally down Broad Ripple Avenue.

According to city officials, the bridge requires urgent repair; the anticipated cost is $3.2 million, of which $3/4 will come from federal funding.

According to DPW Spokesperson Corey Ohlenkamp, if they had found a contractor sooner, the project would have begun sooner.

“We had to bring this to bid several times, where if we delay further we run the risk of losing that federal funding.”

The city’s nearly two-year renovation of Broad Ripple Avenue is now complete. Nobody in Broad Ripple wants to start a new construction project as they ring in the new year, according to Dillon.

“And to have a month where things are open and then we get a main artery into the village completely shut down for another 90 days, there are concerns on that, there are concerns that will this just be 90 days or will it be extended just like the last project was.”

According to DPW officials, blocking Westfield Avenue for a whole year to replace the bridge will enable workers to complete the job more quickly than if it were closed on an as-needed basis.