Tired of the construction that has kept Westfield Boulevard closed since December? Not even sure as to why the road has been blocked?

For all Broad Ripple residents and visitors who have been slightly perturbed by the now four month closing of Westfield Boulevard, take solace in the fact that the road was closed for a very good purpose - to save 2,400 properties from future flood damage.

Since 2002, the Army Corp.of Engineers and the Indianapolis Department of Public Works (DPW) have joined together to undertake a three-part flood protection project. The goal is to enhance the current levee along Indianapolis' White River to remove homes and businesses from the 100 year floodplain.

According to Steve Hardiman, Public Information Officer with DPW, four significant floods have occurred along the White River since 1953. The most significant of these events occurred in January 1991 when residents of more than 500 Marion County homes were forced to evacuate. The flooding damaged roadways, interrupted utility services and caused several life threatening injuries.

After an extensive engineering study was conducted, it was determined that without a major overhaul, the levee along the White River would breach before it was overtopped. According to the project's web site, this would "create a catastrophic situation, possibly resulting in the loss of life, since there would be little or no warning."

Phases A and B of the flood protection project are targeted toward repairing the existing Warfleigh levee along the White River. Phase A, known simply as the Warfleigh Section, consisted of the expansion of the levee by 7,600 ft. and the rehabilitation of the Warfleigh Pumping Station. Phase B, known as the South Warfleigh section will involve the construction of a 4100 ft. floodwall from the Riviera Club to Kessler Boulevard.

The construction along Westfield Boulevard is Phase C of the project, known as the Monon-Broad Ripple Section. For the last four months, workers have been extending and fortifying the existing Monon East levee along the Broad Ripple Central Canal and modifying the canal intake gate structure, which will safeguard nearly 55 percent of the city's drinking water.

"In order to facilitate the construction within the canal, we had to establish a process to pump water from the east side to the west side," said Hardiman. To that effect, 14 pipes measuring 12 inches in diameter were installed across the Westfield Bridge, allowing 85 million gallons of water to be pumped from the canal to the Indianapolis Water Company. This extensive overhaul was what necessitated the closing of Westfield Boulevard.

The total estimated cost of the flood protection project is $17.5 million.

"Some of that is federally sponsored," said Hardiman. "The city of Indianapolis will pay about 25 percent of project costs, about $4.375 million, with a federal contribution of about $13 million."

To those still disconcerted by the closing of one of Broad Ripple's main thoroughfares, not to worry. Westfield should reopen within the next three or four weeks. Until then, take light in the fact that the city has taken swift and decisive action to protect your home against future flood damage.