INDIANAPOLIS — Beginning Tuesday, the West 30th Street bridge over the White River will close and isn't expected to fully reopen until 2024.
According to the Indianapolis Department of Public Works, around $15 million of safety and connectivity improvements will take place, including replacement of the bridge arch.
DPW plans to add a new railing separating pedestrians from traffic, new curbs and ADA-compliant ramps and sidewalks.
At least one bridge span will be open to accommodate water traffic.
Drivers were surprised to see the bridge closed Tuesday afternoon.
"I'm not happy about it. I come this way literally all the time. I'm just leaving my mom's now, so it's not going to be good for me or a whole lot of other people," says Yvonne Johnson, who drives the bridge multiple times a day.
Sanya Hudson also takes the bridge a lot, and is balking at the length of the closure.
"That's a long time for something to be closed. But I'm not surprised. This is Indianapolis, there's a lot of detours and closed sites going around," she says.
DPW spokesperson Ben Easley says that the length of the project is related to the fact that the bridge is a historical site, so extra care must be taken.
The bridge is crumbling and overgrown, so some people in the neighborhood are happy to see it restored, even if it means two years of headaches.
"I think it's an awesome idea. I'm glad that they're doing it, I'm sure it's inconveniencing a lot of people, but it's going to be beautiful when it's done," says Johnson.
"I'd really like to see the new and improved bridge," says Hudson.
DPW shared the following detours for drivers and bicyclists:
Westbound vehicular traffic will follow a detour using West 29th Street; Dr. ML King Jr. Street; West 38th Street; Kessler Boulevard W. Drive and West 30th Street.
Eastbound traffic will use West 30th Street; Kessler Boulevard W. Drive; 38th Street; Dr. ML King Jr. St; West 30th Street. Access to Riverside High School will be available using White River Pkwy E Drive.
Bicyclists traveling westbound should follow the White River Greenway along White River Parkway East Drive south to 16th Street, crossing at the 16th Street bridge using temporary bike lanes and travel north along existing bike lanes on Lafayette Road and Cold Spring Road to 30th Street.
Eastbound bicycle traffic will follow existing bike lanes on Cold Spring Road and Lafayette Road to reach 16th Street, cross the bridge on temporary bike lanes and follow the White River Greenway north to reconnect with 30th Street.
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