On Monday, March 20, 2023, at 3pm around 60 Broad Ripple business owners met with the Department of Public Works (DPW) to discuss Phase Two of the Broad Ripple Avenue drainage improvement and beautification project. Rob Sabatini offered Average Joes as the meeting spot. Since this was a business meeting I will not go into details of what was said, but instead give the project details and a synopsis of the concerns.

Lane Wolf, Public Information Officer for Department of Public Works (DPW) and Chris Harrison, Resident Project Representative from 7NT (BR Avenue construction management), ran the meeting. Other than the image already on the DPW website the only other graphic for the upcoming Broad Ripple Avenue drainage/sidewalk widening/beautification project is below. Surprisingly, there were not many schedule or planning details given, it seemed that only start and end dates had been determined. Many detailed questions were asked, but most answers were vague as projects like this are hard to predict. It was stated that the closure of Broad Ripple Avenue from College Avenue east through the Guilford Avenue intersection is expected to run from April 7th to August 7th, or about 120 days. Although, even these dates were said to be fluid as it is hoped that crews can finish sooner, and portions such as the Guilford intersection could reopen much sooner.

During the closure which should begin the week of April 3rd, Carrollton Avenue will switch to one-way north (funny, because many drivers treat it as if it were north-bound every day of the year).

After the full closure of Broad Ripple Avenue wraps up in August, the side streets will go through a series of short closures to extend the new drainage system north and south from the Avenue.

Following that, the street with be resurfaced. Then work will continue east of the Monon Trail over to Broad Ripple Park, adding a median with trees and the RiverWalk Trail connecting the Monon to Broad Ripple Park.

After the project information was presented, the business owners presented a very clear message to the City and DPW of how this phase 2 closure, on top of last year's phase 1 closure, following the COVID closures, is a tremendous hardship on many business that will be almost completely cut off from customers, police, and fire engine access. At the end, DPW and the Deputy Mayor agreed that something needs to happen to the project and will hold additional meetings with everyone concerned. One good change that came from this meeting was for DPW to find out that the business owners would prefer a shortened project length with the addition of nighttime project hours Mondays-Wednesdays.

DPW will be at the April public meeting of the Broad Ripple Village Association (BRVA) (see our calendar).

Right after the meeting, the DPW issued a press release which can be found in this issue's Public Notices.