By Sam Elliott
Lieutenant Gov. Eric Holcomb and Indiana Dept. of Transportation Deputy Commissioner Ryan Gallagher were joined by Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness as INDOT officially kicked off its 2016 construction season at an April 6 event within eyesight of one of the state’s major projects for the year at the interchange of Ind. 69 and 106th Street.
“Obviously it’s a very exciting time for us here at INDOT,” Gallagher said. “Projects like the 106th Street interchange project here in Fishers — one of seven interchanges throughout the state that we will be reconfiguring or building new this year — provide better access and connectivity in the communities they serve.”
The state’s 770 construction projects this year will come form more than $850 million of investment.
“INDOT is moving aggressively to modernize our state’s infrastructure,” Holcomb said. “This year’s projects, coupled with more than $3.2 billion invested since Gov. pence took office in 2013, has Indiana well positioned to remain the Crossroads of America for generations to come.”
State officials also unveiled INDOT Drives Indiana, a new information campaign dedicated to getting motorists important information related to projects near them and how they’ll affect their commutes.
“We hope INDOT Drives Indiana is going to provide the information you need to hopefully provide a little less stress as you navigate the construction projects this year,” Gallagher said. “INDOT Drives Indiana will include an online, interactive map so that you can get the ‘what,’ the ‘when’ and the ‘for how long’ for the projects that affect you in your county of residence or work. INDOT Drives Indiana will also include project-specific websites, project-specific Facebook profiles, project-specific Twitter accounts so for certain projects you can get more in-depth knowledge about those projects so you can understand what they’re going to do for your travels and understand the benefits those projects will have in your communities.”
Those benefits include economic development, as Fadness credited the interchange improvements at Ind. 69 and 106th Street for helping Fishers secure Stanley Securities’ upcoming corporate headquarters move to the area.
“That means 500 good-paying jobs to the City of Fishers,” Fadness said. “I think that’s a testament to building our future here. I’m excited to be here today in support of not only our project, but to celebrate what the governor and the administration is looking to do in the entire state of Indiana in building our future… It’ll be a little bit of short-term pain as we close the bridge and rebuild it, but long-term for our community it’s a huge win.”
INDOT’s 2016 by the Numbers
- 770 projects statewide
- 740 miles of replaced or resurfaced pavement
- 471 bridges rehabilitated or replaced
- 68 drainage and environmental improvement projects
- 59 safety and traffic improvement projects
- 7 new or modernized interchanges
