56th Street / Raceway Road intersection will get extra turn lanes
By Josh Duke josh.duke@indystar.com
Berns Construction will be allowed to finish what it started after Hendricks County officials approved its bid to complete the widening of 56th Street from the Brownsburg town limits to Raceway Road.
Berns already completed the town's portion of the project last summer, widening 56th Street from two to four lanes from Northfield Drive to County Road 900 East. Now, residents living east of County Road 900 East will have to endure construction delays.
County Commissioners on Tuesday approved Berns Construction's bid of $9.8 million to widen the remaining two miles of 56th Street to Raceway Road from two to four lanes, which includes shifting the road slightly to the north. The project's cost came in well below the county engineer's estimate of $13.7 million.
County Engineer John Ayers said the county likely would give Berns the go ahead to begin construction within two months. Utility companies already have been working to move poles, he said.
Ayers said the entire Raceway Road-56th Street intersection would be widened with extra turn lanes. However, 56th Street heading east into Marion County will taper back down to two lanes, because Marion County officials have no plans to widen the road.
The county plans to keep the road open during construction, though Ayers didn't rule out some temporary closures, especially when they begin replacing a bridge along the route.
Ayers said improvements would take more than one construction season, but he didn't have a timetable for completion. An agreement between the county and Brownsburg stipulates construction must be completed by December 2011.
Hendricks County officials agreed to pay for $5.7 million of the project. A 20-year bond will pay for the remainder of the cost, with the county initially making payments on the bond. Brownsburg agreed to take over payments if the town annexes any part of the road.
County officials agree that finishing the project is important to economic development.
The newly opened I-74 interchange at Ronald Reagan Parkway, which Berns Construction also built, is nearby and is expected to bring retail and industrial growth.
By Josh Duke josh.duke@indystar.com
Berns Construction will be allowed to finish what it started after Hendricks County officials approved its bid to complete the widening of 56th Street from the Brownsburg town limits to Raceway Road.
Berns already completed the town's portion of the project last summer, widening 56th Street from two to four lanes from Northfield Drive to County Road 900 East. Now, residents living east of County Road 900 East will have to endure construction delays.
County Commissioners on Tuesday approved Berns Construction's bid of $9.8 million to widen the remaining two miles of 56th Street to Raceway Road from two to four lanes, which includes shifting the road slightly to the north. The project's cost came in well below the county engineer's estimate of $13.7 million.
County Engineer John Ayers said the county likely would give Berns the go ahead to begin construction within two months. Utility companies already have been working to move poles, he said.
Ayers said the entire Raceway Road-56th Street intersection would be widened with extra turn lanes. However, 56th Street heading east into Marion County will taper back down to two lanes, because Marion County officials have no plans to widen the road.
The county plans to keep the road open during construction, though Ayers didn't rule out some temporary closures, especially when they begin replacing a bridge along the route.
Ayers said improvements would take more than one construction season, but he didn't have a timetable for completion. An agreement between the county and Brownsburg stipulates construction must be completed by December 2011.
Hendricks County officials agreed to pay for $5.7 million of the project. A 20-year bond will pay for the remainder of the cost, with the county initially making payments on the bond. Brownsburg agreed to take over payments if the town annexes any part of the road.
County officials agree that finishing the project is important to economic development.
The newly opened I-74 interchange at Ronald Reagan Parkway, which Berns Construction also built, is nearby and is expected to bring retail and industrial growth.
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