INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis Department of Public Works (Indy DPW) began construction Monday, March 11 on the conversion of New York and Michigan streets to two-way traffic between College Avenue and Ellenberger Park. The work will directly impact residents and commuters to downtown on the east side.
The project has been in the works for the past several years. According to the Federal Highway Administration, one-way streets tend to have higher speeds, while two-way streets tend to be slower. In addition, two-way streets create more direct routes, visibility, and the opportunity for enhanced commerce. In Louisville, Kentucky, a two-way conversion resulted in a 60% decrease in collisions per month.
“With this project and others across the city, we are sending a message: Indy DPW is engineering ways to cut down on selfish, reckless driving in Indianapolis,” said Indy DPW Director Brandon Herget. “We know that the way many of our streets were built decades ago no longer matches the current needs of our residents, and projects like this one will go a long way to addressing that.”
The nearly $20 million project will also involve improvements to existing sidewalks, curbs and ADA ramps, crosswalk enhancements, street resurfacing, protected bike lanes and enhanced bus platforms.
Contractors closed the south side of New York Street the week of March 4 and will begin sidewalk removal this week. Work on New York Street will begin on the western end of the project at College Avenue. Contractors anticipate closing the northern side of Michigan Street near Ellenberger Park.
The project is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
In the coming years, Indy DPW intends to convert portions of more one-way thoroughfares to two-way traffic with the help of funding through the federal RAISE grant and the updated Complete Streets policy in 2022.
Citizens Energy Group is coordinating with Indy DPW to replace lead service lines for homeowners and buildings in the construction zone ahead of the upcoming road work.
