Road construction projects continue in and around the Fishers area as summer work continues in full force.  Below is the city’s listing of projects for the work week starting Monday, July 31st.  Most of the items on this list have been in progress most of the summer, but LarryInFishers provides this list as a heads-up for area motorists.

The list below is provided by the City of Fishers:

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113TH STREET

Lane restrictions will occur on 113th Street from Olio Road to Florida Road throughout the summer in order for the contractor to resurface and make improvements to the roadway.

126TH STREET

Starting on or after July 31st, one lane of eastbound 126th Street just east of Brooks School Road will be closed while a storm sewer is repaired. The closure is expected to last a few days. Please drive with caution.

Expect periodic lane restrictions between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. on 126th Street between Allisonville Road and Lantern Road while the contractor installs passing blisters near Reserve at Lantern. Flaggers will be on site to direct traffic during the restrictions.

106TH AND CUMBERLAND ROAD

Periodic lane restrictions will take place at 106th Street and Cumberland Road while storm sewers are being inspected. Please drive with caution.

ALLISONVILLE ROAD

Starting Thursday, August 3 (weather permitting), the outside northbound lane on Allisonville Road just north of 116th Street will be closed for approximately 3 days while a new gas service is being installed for Kroger.

96TH STREET

Construction has begun on the new roundabout at 96th Street and Lantern Road. 96th Street traffic between Kincaid Drive and Fitness Lane/Pinecreek Drive will be reduced to one lane in each direction throughout the summer.

136TH AND PRAIRIE BAPTIST ROAD

The Hamilton County Highway Department has closed the intersection of 136th Street and Prairie Baptist Road to allow the contractor to reconstruct the intersection. The closure is scheduled to last approximately 60 days. Please follow signs for detour routes. Questions regarding this project may be directed to the Hamilton County Highway Department at 317-773-7770.

116TH STREET

Periodic lane restrictions will occur starting the week of July 24th on 116th Street west of Allisonville Road as the contractor repairs concrete curbs and ramps in preparation for resurfacing the roadway. Restrictions will be in place between the hours of 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Please drive with caution.

There will also be lane restrictions on 116th Street between I-69 and Cumberland Road throughout the summer in order for the contractor to make improvements to 116th Street.

BROOKS SCHOOL ROAD

The Brooks School Road bridge over Interstate 69 is closed as Milestone Contractors rebuild the bridge deck. During the closure, traffic will be detoured to Promise Road via 126th and 136th streets. The bridge will remain closed until August.

I-69 AND CAMPUS PARKWAY

The Campus Parkway interchange was recently shifted into a double-crossover traffic pattern. The interchange will remain under construction through July, when it is expected to be fully open to traffic in its permanent configuration.

Multiple traffic lane shifts will be required to complete construction of the new interchange design. Each phase of remaining construction will bring the interchange closer to its final traffic configuration and capacity. For more information about the new traffic pattern, please visit http://www.in.gov/indot/3441.htm
Milestone Contractors has begun mobilizing cranes and other equipment and setting a temporary concrete barrier wall along I-69 at Campus Parkway Exit 210. Work will require alternating lane closures on northbound and southbound I69 between 9 p.m. and 6 p.m. Lane closures may reoccur each night through the end of the week depending on weather and progress. Questions about this project should be directed to INDOT at eastcentralin@indot.in.gov or 1-855-463-6848.
STATE ROAD 37

Contractors have begun work a $1.5 million drainage structure construction project on State Road 37 between 146th Street and Greenfield Avenue in Noblesville.

The first phase of construction will shift two lanes in each direction toward the right shoulders to provide room for construction in the median. The second phase will shift traffic toward the median to allow construction to be completed along the outside shoulders. All work on the project is expected to be complete this summer.

Starting May 1, geotechnical drilling will begin along the State Road 37 corridor as part of the final design phase of State Road 37 Improvement Project. Lane and shoulder restrictions will be active through July 31.

The geotechnical drilling will cause lane restrictions on SR 37 from 131st Street to 146th Street through July 31. Lane closures are expected to continue for the 131st Street intersection through July 23, and lane closures will commence at the 146th Street intersection on or after July 10. Southbound restrictions begin after 9 a.m. daily and northbound restrictions will be completed daily before 4 p.m. to allow for maximum traffic flow during peak rush hours.

State Road 37 turn lanes will not be affected during lane closures and crews will maintain a minimum of one throughlane at all times.

The SR37 improvement project is a $124 million joint project between Fishers, Hamilton County, Noblesville and INDOT. Questions or concerns may be directed to drivefishers@fishers.in.us.
OUTSIDE OF FISHERS

The City of Carmel has closed 116th Street and Hazel Dell Parkway for the construction of a roundabout. This closure is expected to last for 75 days. Questions and updates about this project should be directed to the City of Carmel at 317-571-2400.

While this list encompasses numerous project updates, it does not list all DPW projects throughout the city. The most recent projects are detailed, however please keep in mind that all construction activities are weather permitting. We appreciate motorists’ patience and caution while driving through construction sites.

Hamilton Southeastern School Superintendent Allen Bourff talks about the start of school and many other issues, including elementary school redistricting that will come with a new building soon to be under construction.

(NOTE: The Hamilton County Reporter newspaper has obtained e-mails from a person described as “a concerned citizen.”  This “concerned citizen” received copies of these e-mails through Indiana’s public access laws.  The release of these e-mails has resulted in Noblesville Mayor John Ditslear releasing a statement saying Deputy Mayor Steve Cooke will  “turn his attention to other city projects and let the discussion about the Nickel Plate Trail continue under the leadership of other city officials.”  I want to clearly point out that LarryInFishers.com has taken no position on the future of the Nickel Plate Rail Line, as to whether the line should be a trail or continue as a rail rail from Noblesville south to 96th Street, which takes-in a part of Fishers.  I post this story through a partnership LarryInFishers.com has with the Hamilton County Reporter)

by

Hamilton County Reporter

A concerned citizen recently filed a request for information for “copies of public records (electronic or print) that relate to the City of Noblesville and its interactions regarding the Indiana Transportation Museum as well as the Nickel Plate Trail proposal” under the Indiana Access to Public Records Act. This information was then given to The Reporter. Some emails point to both Noblesville Deputy Mayor Steve Cooke attempting to fill a public forum with front-row supporters of his own view and a pattern of disrespect toward citizens who do not agree with his perspectives on city projects.

The Reporter contacted Deputy Mayor Cooke, Mayor John Ditslear and the Noblesville Common Council to ask for their views on some specific emails which were provided as part of the public records request.

The following are specific email excerpts, The Reporter’s questions and Cooke’s replies.

Continue reading Hamilton County Reporter Publishes E-Mails Dealing With Nickel Plate Debate →

The Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School Board took legal steps to move forward with building projects at the Wednesday evening meeting.

The board adopted a resolution giving approval to preliminary plans for the new elementary school building on Cyntheanne Road.  This will pave the way for a public hearing at the next regular board session on the plans to finance the new, as-yet-unnamed school.

The board approved bids for the Central Office and Cumberland Road Elementary school construction projects.  Facilities Manager Harry Delks told board members the Cumberland Road Elementary work has been “a really challenging project,” but things “will be ready as they should be by the time school opens up.”

The long-time Transportation Director for Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) Schools just briefed the school board for the last time on preparations for the start of school.  Jim White plans to retire in December of this year.  (You can listen to the Podcast interview I recorded late last year with Jim White at this link.)

White’s department will start the school year with 303 buses, 362 employees & 299 of them drive school buses.  The miles driven by all buses combined during the 2016-2017 school year totaled just under three million miles.  The fuel costs to run those buses for the last school year came to $871,726.

There will be 19 new buses on the road as school goes into session in August.

The total transportation budget for 2016-2017 school year was $13.6 million.

You can view all the data Director White shared with the board at this link.

When HSE High School student Ranvir Sandhu’s mother attempted suicide, he was motivated to start a school club aimed at educating others about mental health.  He got the help of Principal Matt Kegley, School District Mental Health Coordinator Brooke Lawson, Spanish Teacher Leslie Caliz, and some others to start the club.  The Stigma Free Club now sports 70 members, with the goal of spreading education about fighting the stigma often attached to those suffering from mental illness.  The group is holding a special event August 11th.  You can learn more about that event at this link.

The Hamilton Southeastern School Board honored Ranvir and his fellow club members at the July 26th meeting.

Phase One of the Fishers Mental Health Initiative is now complete, and Phase Two is well underway.  Phase One centered on improving education and training, and enhancing already-available resources and access to service.

The city’s Phase Two will focus on changing the culture and stigma around mental health, with the kickoff coming in August.

August 2nd will feature an interfaith, community prayer gathering hosted by Grace Community Church. The prayer service begins at 7 p.m. and takes place at the Nickel Plate District Amphitheater.

“During phase one, our team achieved wins on the tactical side,” Mayor Scott Fadness said in a city news release. “Now that we’ve addressed gaps in our community paramedicine program, crisis intervention and the role of first responders during a crisis; we’ve got to turn our attention to changing the culture and policy around mental health. How do we get this conversation to the dinner table inside each resident’s household?”

Here is a full listing of upcoming Phase Two Mental Health Week events:

Wednesday, August 2nd
Interfaith Prayer Gathering for Stigma Free Fishers
Nickel Plate District Amp | 7 p.m.

Tuesday, August 8th
Tuesday Night Concert featuring Intermission guest Mike Riekhof
Nickel Plate District Amp | 7 p.m.

Wednesday, August 9th
Peyton Riekhof Foundation for Youth Hope Dineout for Mental Health:
City BBQ – 9367 Ambleside Drive, Fishers
Handel’s (3 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.) – 8760 E. 116th Street, Fishers

Thursday, August 10th
Peyton Riekhof Foundation for Youth Hope Dineout for Mental Health:
Stone Creek – 13904 Town Center Blvd., Noblesville

Friday, August 11th
Stigma Free HSE’s Hope for Happiness Celebration feat. Dave and Rae
Central Green, City Hall | 6-9 p.m.

AMP After Dark: WJJK presents Dogs of Society: A Musical Tribute to the Music of Elton John
Nickel Plate District Amp | 9 p.m.

Saturday, August 12th
Fishers Unplugged Weekend in the Parks

Community Movie Night featuring Inside Out
Nickel Plate District Amp | Dusk

Community Health Network will have tables at HSE Schools Back to School Nights to
learn more about your school’s new Mental Health Therapist

by

Fred Swift

Hamilton County Reporter

(NOTE: Commentaries by Fred Swift are posted on LarryInFishers.com through a partnership with the Hamilton County Reporter)

Hamilton County motorists who drive 146th Street and wish to head south on Keystone toward Indianapolis should be happy to hear that a new section of roadway to access southbound Keystone from 146th will be well underway by this time next year.

The elevated link, sometimes called a ‘flyover’ will be less than a half-mile long, but will make a critical link essentially extending Lowe’s Way to the south over northbound Keystone and then curve into the southbound lanes of Keystone where drivers encounter no stoplights until reaching 96th Street.

(Currently it is more difficult to get onto the popular parkway, with motorists having to use 151st Street in order to get on U.S. 31 which has an exit for Keystone.)

County Highway Director Brad Davis prefers to call the project a Lowe’s Way extension. Bids will be taken in February, and likely be awarded in March. He reports that about $4 million in federal funds will help pay the estimated $12 million cost of the Lowe’s Way connection.

A second, future phase of the project will take the improvement to the north end of existing Range Line Road to allow direct access from 146th to Range Line, the main route into downtown Carmel. There is also good news for the highway department from Purdue University estimates of revenue coming to the county from the state increase in gas tax and other fees adopted by state legislation this year.

Davis said estimates show about $3 million next year for the county. Actual disbursements will reportedly start in August of this year, and would appear to amount to something over $1 million yet this year. This money is for the county unit only, and does not include disbursements to the eight cities and towns in Hamilton County. The formula used for these additional payments is the same that is used for disbursement of currently allocated gas tax revenues.

Richie Hall previews the local fall high school sports season

A $10.7 million shiny new Fishers Police Headquarters building could be ready for occupancy a little over a year from now, following action by the Fishers Board of Public Works and Safety.  Board members approved a resolution allowing the city to enter into a public-private partnership agreement with the Hagerman Group, during its regular Monday meeeting.

The new parking garage, to be partially used by the police department, is already under construction.  The new police headquarters structure will be 48,000 square feet, compared to the current headquarters building which contains 24,000 square feet of space.

Hagerman constructs the garage and new building, the city will then purchase the facilities from Hagerman under this agreement.

A public hearing was required under law, but no one chose to speak.

In other Board of Works actions, all the following were approved:

–Purchase of an Emergency Response Team vehicle, using forfeiture money taken by the police department.  Mayor Fadness described this as “more civilian-like” than other emergency response vehicles used by other local law enforcement agencies.

–Early payment for the 116th Street Pedestrian Improvement Project, extending from Allisonville Road to I-69.

–Amend and extend the Landscape Maintenance Contract
entered into between the City of Fishers and Brightview Landscape.