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Carmel update on Dept. of Transportation grant money

CARMEL, Ind. (WISH) – Carmel hopes before the end of summer, it has a big  announcement from the federal government.

The city has asked for a grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation.  The money would help the city build a roundabout at 96th Street and Keystone Parkway.

The concept has been discussed for several years and now it’s back.

Mayor Jim Brainard told 24-Hour News 8, “The DOT officials in Washington were very encouraging.  They seemed to think it was a very good project and had a decent chance of being approved.”

That does not mean the funding is guaranteed.  Brainard also said that only about three out of a hundred requests are granted.

If the request is successful, Carmel would receive $12 to $15 million that would be for the construction.

Carmel would still need funding to buy the land, pay for final engineering and other costs for the project. The federal money would provide only about half of the expense of a new roundabout.

Brainard said the design would be similar to the other new interchanges on Keystone Parkway through Carmel.

In this case, a bridge would go over 96th Street and that would mean no more stops through Carmel.

Drivers heading south on Keystone would stop near 465.  That is in Indianapolis, outside of Carmel’s jurisdiction. A spokesman for Carmel has told us the city believes more than 75 percent of southbound traffic goes to 465 and does not get caught at a light.

The change “would be great for business,” Brainard said. “We’ve already had two businesses close in the area because people couldn’t get in and out and it would eliminate the wait on Keystone.”

Brainard hopes for an answer from the DOT by Sept.  After that, the city would need time to buy property and design the interchange and a season of summer for construction.  So, 2017 would be likely for the beginning of the project.