Fishers motorists who use Hazel Dell Parkway to reach Carmel’s south side are facing a detour that may last far longer than a typical construction season.
The Hazel Dell Parkway bridge over Blue Woods Creek, between 96th and 106th streets, collapsed Aug. 15 as the White River crested at a record 24.6 feet — surpassing the 23.8-foot mark set in the Great Flood of 1913. Hamilton County Highway Director Bradley Davis said flash flooding washed out the dirt and pavement around the bridge opening, undermining the structure until it failed.
Hamilton County Commissioner Christine Altman has since called the bridge a total loss. Early estimates put the damage at roughly $10 million. Altman said state rules allow the county to expedite bridge reconstruction after a disaster while still controlling costs.
Although the bridge sits inside Carmel city limits, Hazel Dell Parkway is a county bridge, so replacing it falls to the Hamilton County Highway Department — not the City of Carmel.
Where the two-year figure comes from
Carmel City Councilor Adam Aasen, who represents the city’s southeast district, told constituents in a social media post that a replacement could take about two years. The county has not published an official schedule, and Davis said last weekend that crews did not yet have a timeline for reopening the road.
A two-year window is plausible for a full replacement. Bridge projects normally require design, permitting, environmental review and bidding before construction begins, and this one carries an added complication: a sewer main beneath the crossing carries roughly 90 percent of Carmel’s wastewater to the treatment plant at 96th Street and Hazel Dell Parkway. Mayor Sue Finkam warned this week of a high risk that line could fail. Stabilizing it will likely have to happen before, or alongside, any bridge work.
Emergency federal and state disaster funding could compress that schedule. Until the county says otherwise, the two-year estimate should be treated as one official’s expectation rather than a firm date.
What it means for your drive
Hazel Dell Parkway is one of only a handful of continuous north-south routes between Keystone Parkway and Allisonville Road, and the closed segment sits directly above the 96th Street commercial corridor that draws heavy Fishers traffic.
Drivers coming from Fishers have two practical options. Allisonville Road remains the most direct north-south path on the east side, feeding into 96th, 106th and 116th streets. Keystone Parkway, about a mile and a half west, is the faster route for anyone bound for central or north Carmel, reached via 106th, 116th or 126th streets.
Expect the squeeze at the 96th Street intersections with Allisonville Road and Keystone Parkway, especially during morning and evening peaks. Neighborhood streets in the Hazel Dell corridor are also likely to absorb cut-through traffic.
Hamilton County is posting closure updates on its highway department page. Residents needing flood assistance can call 317-645-3261 or visit the hub at the 4-H Fairgrounds in Noblesville.