More construction to begin on downtown streets

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Lane restrictions on several city streets are coming Monday in order to redo roads southwest of downtown, the Indianapolis Department of Public Works said.

Joan Halliburton lives in Indianapolis and said she is not looking forward to Monday when work starts on South, West, Capitol and McCarty streets.

Although this project won’t shut down the roads entirely, Halliburton said the city should consider holding off.

“Right now, it’s like building a new city all at one time, and that we’re not ready for,” said Halliburton.

For business owners, the work is a two-way street. Owner of Stadium Tavern and the Whistle Stop, Rob Strong, said parts of the project will force people to slow down near his bar.

“Hopefully we’ll get people that are tired of sitting in traffic and they’ll come in. Hopefully we get some of the construction workers to come in for lunches and stuff,” said Strong.

However, on the other end, he said sometimes the congestion drives people away from the city. Strong said that’s certainly what he’s experienced with the north split project and the construction on several other downtown streets.

“I own two businesses downtown, I live downtown, I absolutely love downtown and I want to see it thrive — and it’s not,” said Strong.

Construction on the four streets is set to wrap up in November. Most of the work will happen on Mondays and Saturdays.