By Mark Ambrogi
Lynn Strueh figured this was coming.
U.S. 421 and Ind. 32 will close at the new roundabout beginning Nov. 2 for two to three weeks, weather permitting. Crews from Calumet Contractors of Whitestown – who built the original project – will repair the mountable curb on the roundabout center island after the Indiana Department of Transportation found the mountable curb was taller than what was called for in the design plans.
Strueh, a Zionsville resident, said it was clear semis were having trouble, so she figured something would have to be done.
“The berm looked big for semis to get around,” said Strueh, who lives on U.S. 421, a half-mile north of the intersection of the troubled intersection. “We watch all the livestock semis go by and all the farm equipment. When we were down there at first, we said we weren’t sure how the semis were going get around the middle of the roundabout. So we’re not surprised something had to be redone.”
INDOT will pay for the repairs. Spokesperson Debbie Calder said the agency will track the labor, materials and equipment used to perform the work and reimburse actual costs. She declined to estimate how much that might be.
Streuh and other area residents said they will be glad when the work is finally completed.
“It seems to have dragged on a lot longer than we expected all together,” Strueh said. “It started July 6, and we were quoted 45 days, and that went a lot longer than we were first told.”
According to INDOT, the project took 77 days to complete.
“Weather was partly an issue, but finding that the existing pavement and ground conditions were mostly different than our pre-design test borings had indicated (added to the delay),” Calder said.
Strueh said her two kids, who attend Union Elementary, have had their bus schedule changed three times because of the project.
“There is nothing we can do about it. We’re just feeling frustrated that the first time didn’t get it done,” Strueh said. “My daughter says they are on the last bus to get to school, and ‘I’m always late, and the bell’s already rung.’ They get home later.”
Strueh said the gravel roads on one detour were getting unsafe for hubcaps and the car itself so she took another route.
After the new mountable curbs are poured, the roundabout will be closed without workers on site while the concrete cures. The detour for U.S. 421 traffic follows I-465, I-865, I-65 and Ind. 47. The detour for Ind. 32 follows I-65, Ind. 47, Ind. 48 and U.S. 31.
