Commentary by Rep. Todd Huston
Bright orange cones and barrels will be a common sight while traveling along Ind. 37 through Fishers, which may cause some delays and frustration. While this may be a temporary inconvenience, we need to think about the purpose of this project. With roughly 50,000 cars traveling this road every single day, the state and local communities are investing $124 million to turn this roadway into an expressway-style thoroughfare with roundabouts.
This major construction project on Ind. 37 will cause some heartburn now, but it will help keep our area’s most essential transportation resource thriving for years to come.
With the tens of thousands of people using this roadway, this improvement work will help ease traffic congestion. By eliminating stoplights at the intersections of 126th, 131st, 141st and 146th streets, drivers can pass through our local communities more easily.
It also is important to note the economic impact this road work could have on our communities. When job creators seek areas to develop and expand, they search for cities with high-quality infrastructure. Outstanding roadways not only help move goods from one place to another, they draw consumers to local businesses. With that in mind, this transformative project will improve access to Fishers by adding exit and entrance ramps from Ind. 37.
To help impacted residents and businesses stay updated on the progress of this roadwork, local communities launched a campaign called “37Thrives”. Hoosiers can visit 37thrives.com or its Facebook page to learn more about this project. A recent post notes two lanes in both directions will stay open throughout this three-year project.
While a major road project may cause some pain for drivers now, this huge investment in the lifeline of our community will only help push Fishers toward continued success well into the future. If you have any input, please contact my office at [email protected].
