By Anna Skinner
Connecting to I-65 in Whitestown has become a little easier, as town and Boone County officials celebrated the opening of the extension of Albert S. White Parkway on Aug. 7.
The new bridge and road extension takes drivers over Fishback Creek, allowing drivers on Albert S. White Parkway to directly connect to I-65 at exit 133. This is expected to relieve traffic from the Amazon Fulfillment Center and send fewer vehicles to Whitestown Parkway, which is at exit 130.
“We are happy to have it done,” Whitestown Town Manager Dax Norton said. “For the first time ever you can drive over Fishback Creek. We’re happy to have that piece of infrastructure.”
Boone County officials applied for federal aid to help build the bridge in 2008. Construction took two years, with 80 percent of funds coming from federal aid and 20 percent from local sources. The project also includes a trail along the road.
“I think short term it gives Whitestown residents, in the Walker Farms neighborhood especially, an opportunity for an interchange, instead of driving all the way to exit 130 and Main Street, which is also having issues,” Norton said. “It also opens up more opportunity to reach retail stores. We essentially opened it up to provide ease of access to Whitestown, and ease of access is one of the main things to deal with in economic development.”
Before the extension, Albert S. White Road dead-ended at Fishback Creek.
