More road and bridge repairs to begin in spring2.9.11

RebuildIndy will now focus outside the Downtown area

INDIANAPOLIS STAR

Ice and blustery cold have temporarily halted road projects in Indianapolis, but get ready for the cone zones to expand in the spring.

A $32 million second phase of road and infrastructure projects, announced Tuesday by Mayor Greg Ballard, will get under way as part of the city's multiyear, $500 million-plus RebuildIndy program. Most will target areas outside Downtown.

One focus in this phase will be bridges, with 13 on the list of 80 projects.

What's to come: List of spring 2011 RebuildIndy projects

A notable selection is the long-neglected and crumbling Meridian Street bridge over Fall Creek on the Near Northside.

A few bridges were included in the $55 million first phase, begun last fall, and Far-Southside resident Bill Boyd cites ongoing work on the Morris Street bridge over the White River as a project he appreciates.

"That's been a dangerous bridge for a long time, so I'm glad to see that done," said Boyd, who is Perry Township director of the Marion County Alliance of Neighborhood Associations.

Much of the money for future RebuildIndy projects is expected to come from the city's pending sale of its water and sewer utilities to Citizens Energy Group. That deal is awaiting regulatory approval.

Here is an overview of the program and what's coming next.

What is the new projects' scope?

While the first round has focused heavily on Downtown streets in preparation for the 2012 Super Bowl, few projects this time are in the city center. Besides bridges, the city aims to spend $4 million to repair curbs, sidewalks and pedestrian ramps; half of the road resurfacing projects are in residential areas.

How does the city select projects?

The Department of Public Works takes suggestions from residents and reaches out to City-County Council members. It also sends engineers from DPW and independent contractors to analyze streets and bridges, said DPW spokeswoman Molly Deuberry.

Agency officials assign each suggested project one of three priority levels. Director David Sherman said that means the worst streets get fixed first, though officials also spread out projects and coordinate with utilities to make sure any necessary underground work gets done first.

May I suggest a road for repaving?

Yes. Send an e-mail to rebuild indy@indy.gov. Or contact the Mayor's Action Center by calling (317) 327-4MAC (327-4622) or going online to www.indy.gov/mac.

How fairly have the projects been spread out?

Sherman said DPW has taken need into account first, but most areas of the city have seen repairs. The second phase includes just a few projects in Center, Decatur and Warren townships, but all are rated first priority.

Councilman Robert Lutz, a Republican representing the Far-Westside District 13, has pushed for repaving on High School and Country Club roads. Both were selected for the new phase.

"They seem to have been pretty responsive," Lutz said of DPW officials. "I was working prior to this new list primarily on thoroughfare areas. I did send in a group of neighborhood streets that needed to be done pretty badly."

But Democrat Brian Mahern, who represents the Near-Eastside District 16, said letting anyone except street engineers steer selection could let politics creep in.

He has lobbied for a comprehensive infrastructure study.

"When the need is as great as it is, we have to make sure we're doing the worst ones first," Mahern said. "At the end of the day, everybody thinks their stuff should be done."

Some projects have been on hold for a while; are they behind schedule?

No, Ballard said. Planners included weather delays in timelines for each project, though he hopes the relentless winter weather eases soon.

Will the program repair all of Indianapolis' crumbling roads?

Studies of Indianapolis' infrastructure have projected $1.5 billion is needed. That amount is triple the RebuildIndy program's anticipated scope during the next three to five years, but Ballard said officials will try to stretch dollars by seeking federal matching grants for projects.

"There's a lot of work going on throughout the city, but it's a drop in the bucket," he said. "There's a lot more to come."

What about new potholes?

Four DPW crews were out Tuesday filling chuckholes. Deuberry said to expect a blitz of workers out catching up in the next few weeks, weather permitting.

http://www.indystar.com/article/20110209/LOCAL18/102090329/-1/7daysarchives/More-road-bridge-repairs-begin-spring