The following information was submitted to Current in Carmel by the City of Carmel on Sept. 8:
The City of Carmel will begin a major street improvement project working on portions of Main Street near the new state highway interchange on U.S. 31. The $4.4 million city project, set to get underway this fall and funded mostly by state transportation funds, has been awarded to E&B Paving.
The project calls for reconstruction and expansion of the roadway, installation of new utility lines, curbs, gutters, storm sewers and sidewalks. The roundabouts at Illinois and Old Meridian along Main Street will also be expanded to accommodate two lanes of traffic. The work is being done in order to meet the traffic demand anticipated as a result of the new interchange currently under construction. The Main Street project will extend from the Illinois Street roundabout west of the highway, to the Old Meridian Street roundabout east of the highway.
“This is an exciting project for Main Street, and its improved connectivity east and west across Carmel,” said Mayor Jim Brainard. “We are pleased to see the state incorporate roundabouts into its U.S. 31 interchanges, which along with our Main Street project upgrades will make travel more safe and efficient.”
The Main Street interchange will also be the primary entry point for motorists from across the state to access Carmel’s popular Arts & Design District, located a mile east of the interchange.
“This is a rapidly changing area and this project is designed to improve the infrastructure needed to handle what we predict will be a much higher volume of traffic,” said Jeremy Kashman, city engineer.
Preliminary work will begin this week as the city plans to keep Main Street closed east of U.S. 31 to Old Meridian Street. INDOT plans to open the Main Street bridge over the highway this week. Traffic will be directed south on Pennsylvania Street toward the business district at Carmel Drive, where they can continue eastbound on Carmel Drive.
The Main Street improvements will be concentrated to the west and east of U.S. 31. The state is responsible for work on the portion of Main Street that extends over U.S. 31, including the bridge and ramps.
The city of Carmel project is being funded primarily by $4.2 million in state funds made available by INDOT as part of a new program that allows the state to swap $1 in federal funds with 75 cents in state funds. Under this method, local governments bid approved projects and costs will be reimbursed by INDOT. It is anticipated that the city’s portion of the project cost will be roughly $1 million, funded through a combination of existing Engineering Department funds, Utilities and a portion from a previously issued road bond.
Preliminary work will include a weekend closure of the Illinois Street roundabout at Main Street. Details on that temporary closure will be announced soon.
For more information on the U.S. 31 project, go to http://us31hamiltoncounty.in.gov/
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