Ikea hires crews, gives updated timeline on new Fishers location

FISHERS, Ind. (WISH) – Ikea took another step Wednesday to opening its first Indiana location. This comes, as roadwork is nearly complete to help drivers get to the new store.

Ikea will build on a site near 116th Street. The company hired contractors and will start work next month.

“I love Ikea,” Indianapolis resident, Tiffany Christopher said. “I’ve been to Ikea ever since I was a child. I’m really excited about that. I think that’s a really good thing for Indiana.”

“I think it’s great,” Indianapolis resident, Jamey Fox said. “We haven’t had something like that forever. Not having to drive to a different city or state would be really cool.”

Before the store opens, the state and city agreed to complete a number of road projects, including at 106th Street with an I-69 interchange, and at 116th Street, where new lights and lanes will be added.

If these projects aren’t done by next summer, Ikea will get big tax breaks. As of Wednesday, it appears all projects could be done nine months ahead of the deadline.

Indiana Department of Transportation said drivers could start using 106th Street as early as November. Fishers said 116th Street will be done by December.

“It’s beneficial to everybody in the city,” Fishers resident, Brittny Kasprzyk said. “There’s a lot of things that could be done with it. To have money flow in and out would be good.”

Ikea announced plans to build a $40 million store nearly a year ago. With the groundbreaking and road project work nearly complete, the store is on schedule to open by next fall.

A timeline that has some thinking about their first purchase. “I know my family needs a new toilet, but beds and stuff is always nice,” Kasprzyk said.

While Fishers will finish 116th Street projects by December, crews won’t go away. The city is doing additional work, outside the agreement, which will keep workers there. That project won’t be finished until next year.