Construction projects speeding along despite heat - 13 WTHR Indianapolis

With all that is seemingly going wrong with the weather, several construction projects are going right.

If you are sitting there sweating and steaming in a road construction zone, it may end sooner than expected. On the northwest side of Indianapolis, workers are speeding through construction projects. The unrelenting heat and devastating drought are good for the road building business.

Without rain to slow them down, it looks as if city and state road projects will finish on time, some weeks ahead of time.

"The faster we can go out there and get stuff done, the faster commuters can reap the benefits of these improvement," said INDOT spokesperson Nathan Riggs.

There is a dizzying amount of road work underway around Indianapolis.

"I'll tell you what, my GPS can't get me through it," said driver Al Orpurt.

Drivers admit all the cone zones and closings are driving them a little crazy.

"It's a challenge getting to and from and not knowing what it is going to be from one day to the next," said Brian Mitchell as he detoured though one construction zone.

On the city's west side, favorable construction weather helped Indianapolis complete the Country Club Road bridge three weeks early. On the east side, the rebuilding of I-70 near Post Road, once delayed by the wet spring, is back on schedule.

Looking to the north, the massive intersection of Keystone and US 31 is ahead of schedule. A brand new southbound ramp opened a week sooner than planned. The ambitious effort to rebuild the Allisonville Road bridge over I-465 in just 110 days should finish on time, ending a traffic nightmare.

Although the road construction closings are an inconvenience for residents and drivers, they are creating a significant financial hardship for neighboring businesses.

Businesses in a small strip mall at 96th Street and Allisonville Road say they've lost as much as half their business. The Royal Laundry considers itself lucky. Only a third of its customers quit coming.

"It's hurting. It's hurting a lot. We need that bridge opened yesterday," said Manager Suzy Neuberger as she looked at the nearly empty laundry.

Construction zones that disappear early will save drivers time and aggravation, but cost taxpayers a little more money. Contracts typically include incentives for completing the work early. The contractor rebuilding the Allisonville Road bridge could earn an additional $200,000 for completing the job and getting traffic moving again ahead of schedule.