Red Line buses too heavy for some city streets

Indianapolis, Indiana – Several downtown Indianapolis streets were closed for the building of the Red Line. IndyGo has now closed several of its stations along the Red Line for reconstruction and “enhancements.”

“It looks like they are wasting taxpayers’ money, that’s what it looks like. I thought it was already done,” Sean Booker who works a few blocks from the Red Line station at 14th and Capitol, said.

Capitol Ave. from 16th street to Washington Street looks like the Red Line is still under construction. The entire Red Line bus lane on Capitol Ave. is closed as contractors remove cracked concrete and repair damaged asphalt caused by Red Line buses. For daily riders, the construction is confusing. “They are just tearing it up as fast as [they] built it up,” Indianapolis resident, Shenka Howard, said.

According to IndyGo, station enhancements include new rub rails to protect buses as they approach the stations. Contractors are removing the existing concrete pads that have cracked under the weight of the buses. The new concrete pads will be 9 inches thick with a more robust gravel base for added support. I-Team 8 asked IndyGo to explain.

As ruts developed in the bus lanes and concrete started to crack, IndyGo discovered the problem last fall. IndyGo would not say how many of the stations are affected.

I-Team 8 was told the repairs will cost $5,147,025.38.

According to DPW, IndyGo is responsible for pavement in the redline lanes and concrete pads at the stations.

“The redline was supposed to be complete and that is why we opened up and started riding,” Howard said.