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Westfield Bridge replacement public meeting
posted: Sept. 01, 2022

The Indianapolis Department of Public Works (DPW) held a public meeting at the Indianapolis Art Center, 820 E. 67th Street [A4 on map], on August 24, 2022. While 700 notification postcards were sent out by DPW, there was a typo which listed contradictory information for the day/date for the meeting. Only five residents attended the meeting (which may have nothing to do with the ambiguous date on the invitation). Due to some miscommunication or misunderstanding at DPW neither the Broad Ripple Gazette nor the Broad Ripple Village Association received any notice of the meeting. I was alerted to the meeting by Midtown Indy.
Including the presenters there were about 11 in attendance. The meeting was run by Rob Zolcak - DPW Project Manager, Lane Wolf - DPW Public Information Officer, and Erica Haas - Project manager.
The purpose of the meeting was to tell the public the details for the upcoming replacement of the Westfield Bridge over the canal [E5 on map] that is expected to be completed by September 30, 2023. The construction will occur in phases - road closure, canal draining, other work such as retaining walls, etc.
The project description states that the construction will begin this fall, but the actual demolition and rebuilding should occur starting February 1, 2023. The contract allows for Westfield Boulevard to be closed for a maximum of 100 days, although weather could change that.
It was revealed that the current Westfield Bridge sits atop the old canal shut-off gate (drawings indicate the gate was built in 1909). The current shut-off gate (called the head gate) is now just to the east of the bridge behind the green chain link fence. It had large wheels that could be turned to shut off the flow of water from the White River into the canal, although those have been replaced by electronically controlled valves. Long-time readers will remember that 60% of our drinking water comes from the canal flow (see our articles on the canal history and operations).

Existing bridge
Existing bridge
image courtesy of DPW presentation


The existing bridge has a large concrete wall on the west face. It has been in disrepair for many years. That concrete wall is a retaining wall for the dirt behind it that sits on the six boxes that once served as the canal gates. They are always open now and this is the source of the flowing water into the canal, under the retaining wall.
All of the current bridge structure will be removed during the rebuilding, except for the concrete base that the old canal gates sit upon. That base will be left in place so as to not disturb the integrity of the canal floor.
A new arched bridge will be built over that base. A new sidewalk will be added to the west side of the bridge that will tie into the Monon Trail just south of the bridge, where there is a landscape area today.
When the canal head gates are closed and the canal around the bridge is drained for construction work (using a temporary cofferdam just downstream from the bridge), other recently added canal intakes near the Riviera Club will be used to channel water from the White River to supply the 16th Street water treatment plant with water for the City.

Proposed bridge
Proposed bridge
image courtesy of DPW presentation


Detour
Detour
image courtesy of DPW presentation


The bridge today as seen from the Monon Trail
The bridge today as seen from the Monon Trail
Quan


South of the bridge where the new sidewalk will connect to the Monon Trail
South of the bridge where the new sidewalk will connect to the Monon Trail
Quan


The east side of the bridge is crumbling
The east side of the bridge is crumbling
Quan


The east (river facing) face of the current Westfield bridge
The east (river facing) face of the current Westfield bridge
Quan


The bridge looking north
The bridge looking north
Quan




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