13 WTHRIndy gets $23M to repair streets, bridges

Indy gets $23M to repair streets, bridges

Mary Milz/Eyewitness News

Indianapolis - The most deteriorated streets and bridges in Indianapolis will be repaired with millions of dollars in stimulus money.

Republican Mayor Greg Ballard and Democratic Congressman André Carson held a news conference Thursday to talk about how that $22.9 million will be divvied up. (See a list of projects here.)

"This is the kind of jolt our economy needs locally and the kind of improvements our neighborhoods need," said Carson.

The Department of Public Works was awarded the funding last June.

Initially DPW assumed the money would pay for resurfacing 97 lane miles and doing five bridge projects, but the bids came in lower than expected.

"The only thing we attribute it to is a lot of competition out there," said Deputy Director Larry Jones.

Jones said as a result, the city will be able to do an extra 35 lane miles and eight bridge projects.

Some of the roads making the A-list include portions of Raymond Street, Thompson Road, Arlington Avenue, Mooresville Road and Emerson Avenue. (See a list of projects here.)

Wanda Martin, an Indianapolis resident who was getting ready to take Raymond, said she was glad to hear about the repairs.

"You just have watch out for the potholes. If you see one coming, you try to get over, but sometimes you can't," Martin said.

While $23 million is a good start, Jones said the backlog of thoroughfare work tops $170 million.

"But considering a year ago, we didn't know this was coming, it's great," he said.

The mayor said another benefit was with the federal funding already planned for high-priority infrastructure projects, "we can focus attention to other problem areas of the city that haven't been addressed for years."

Both Ballard and Carson also talked about job creation.

Carson said, "500-plus local residents will be put to work."

Paul Tate with Reith-Riley Construction, one of the winning contractors, said the work won't so much create new jobs as "keep existing staff. We won't hire anyone new, but we will be able to keep everyone on board."

Harold Force, president of Force Construction, echoed that.

"We're continuing to provide jobs that may not be there without the stimulus money," said Force.

The road and bridge work is set to begin in March and continue through October.

Phyllis Graham, who owns Phyllis' Fish Hook at 46th and Arlington, said she was eager to see the crews.

"It's been a long time since they did anything out here," she said.

She said customers "complain a lot" about the road conditions and she understands why.

"I've hit a couple of bumps and didn't know it. It almost tore my car up," she said.

Jones said while a couple of single-lane bridges will be closed during repairs, no major roads will be closed.

He did say motorists will face "some delays" with traffic lanes reduced.

(See a list of projects here.)

More from the City of Indianapolis:

The street and bridge projects, which are planned citywide, were selected based on the frequency of DPW street maintenance and repairs in the area, as well as resident calls to the Mayor's Action Center.

In addition to assisting in the completion of much needed infrastructure work, the ARRA funding also will provide opportunities to stimulate local, long-term economic growth. According to the US Department of Transportation, for every $1 million invested, 25 jobs will be created and/or sustained in Indianapolis.

Residential resurfacing also will be constructed in 2010. Since many of the city's main thoroughfares will be improved with ARRA funding, the 2010 resurfacing program has been earmarked primarily for residential resurfacing. In future years, DPW will continue to seek additional funding sources in an effort to improve service to residents. By 2012, DPW plans to identify funding sources and increase the maintenance budget to $27 million.

The residential resurfacing street segments were selected based on need, and the areas with the worst road conditions had the highest priority. City-county councillors' input on behalf of residents was taken into consideration. Partial resurfacing will be incorporated into storm water and sanitary projects as well.

DPW