Hamilton County Highway officials say the construction at 146th Street and Allisonville Road is on schedule, but warns local motorists 146th Street will close overnight Wednesday, October 25th.  There is also a reminder of a 90-day full closure of Allisonville Road coming in March of 2024.  The entire project is slated to be complete by 2025.

Below is the full statement issued by Hamilton County:

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Widening of White River Bridge Will Require Overnight Closure of 146th Street

Six months after construction first began at the intersection of 146th Street and Allisonville Road, the Hamilton County Highway Department says the project is on schedule. Crews are currently installing storm sewer structures and prepping new lanes of traffic for pavement, while also widening both sides of the White River Bridge.

“Luckily we’ve had a very dry summer so crews were able to make a lot of progress,” says Matt Lee, the department’s Bridge Program Engineer. “The hope is to have the crews working on the bridge out of the water in the coming months so we can try to avoid any large rain events that could slow our progress.”

In order to better accommodate that, a full overnight closure of 146th Street has been scheduled for Wednesday, October 25. Crews will use that time to set the new bridge beams. “That will be a major undertaking, one that requires cranes removing and lowering beams off semi-trucks. The process will go much faster and be a lot safer if we can do it under a full road closure.”

Crews are currently in Phase 2 of the massive undertaking which will convert the current intersection into a grade-separated interchange, with 146th Street going over a roundabout on Allisonville Road. The project started in March and won’t be complete until summer 2025. “Next spring, probably around March, will be the next big traffic switch,” Lee adds. “That’s also when we’re expecting to start the 90-day closure of Allisonville Road.”

The Highway Department has created an informational website and an e-newsletter that provide the very latest on construction and lane restrictions. Both can be found at 146th St. & Allisonville Rd. Interchange | Hamilton County, IN.

I must credit the editors at the Indianapolis Star and reporter Rachel Fradette – the newspaper has been covering the situation at the Hamilton East Library extensively.

The latest is an advisory opinion from Indiana’s Public Access Counselor, Luke Britt, that indicates the board violated state law while having a meeting at a coffee shop about board officers.

Reporter Fradette does a deep dive into the issue and the board’s response.  You can find her story at this link.

It is possible your access to this story could be limited if you are not an IndyStar subscriber.  Online subscriptions are not that expensive.  Once again, subscribe to your local media.  If you do not, it may not be around in the future.

John Weingardt has served as a local elected official sine 2012.  He started on the Fishers Town Council and was elected to the Fishers City Council.  In this podcast, John says this is his last campaign for Fishers City Council.  He talks about that and much more in this podcast with Larry.

There is an opening on the Hamilton East Public Library (HEPL) Board.  Ray Maddolone has resigned, according to a story posted by Current Publishing.

Reporter Leila Kheiry cites a statement issued by the Hamilton County Commissioners.  Here is the full statement, as reported by Kheiry:

“The Hamilton County Commissioners have accepted the resignation of Ray Maddalone from the Hamilton East Public Library Board of Trustees. We thank him for his willingness to serve and are committed to identifying the best possible replacement to ensure the future success of the Fishers and Noblesville libraries.”

Members of the HEPL board are appointed by the County Council, County Commissioners, Noblesville & HSE School Boards.  Craig Seibe is the other appointee from the Commissioners  currently serving on the library board.

Maddolone had been a supporter of the policy to review books in the teen section of both the Noblesville and Fishers Libraries and remove any not meeting criteria set by the board.  That policy was recently “paused.”

Read Leila Kheiry’s story at this link.

Crystal Neumann took her Fishers City Council seat when Samantha DeLong resigned rom her seat.  She is now running for a full 4-year term on the Council, representing the North Central District.  She joins Larry for a podcast at the link below.

:Lane Skeeters was a Democratic candidate for Fishers City Council 4 years ago, and is now on the ballot once again in the South Central District.  He joins Larry for this podcast.

After many months of behind-the-scenes meetings and negotiations, two residential developments, described as the Flat Fork Planned Unit Development (PUD), north of 96th Street on Georgia and Cyntheane Roads, finally have a positive recommendation from the Fishers Plan Commission.  The rezone request next goes before the Fishers City Council.

Attorney Murray Clark, representing the developer, told commission members the homes in the 96th Street and Georgia Road development will consist of ranch homes with a projected sales price of $450,000 to $550,000.  A proposed commercial component of that development has been taken off the table.

The 96th Street and Cyntheanne Road part of the project will contain 130 2-story residences with prices starting at $600,000 and go up from that price point.

Concerns about the amount of setbacks for homes in each development has been worked out after much discussion.

During the public hearing, some people currently living in that area voiced concerns about the additional traffic coming to the neighborhood.  City staff responded that they have been in contact with McCordsville in Hancock County, on the other side of 96th Street, working together on developments planned adjacent to this residential area.  There were promises of traffic monitoring to respond if any concerns arise.

With only 6 of the 11 members of the Fishers Plan Commission present at the Wednesday evening meeting, a unanimous vote was required for a positive recommendation, and the vote on the Flat Fork PUD was unanimous.

John DeLucia has been involved in the local community many ways, including involvement with a number of nonprofit groups and  years service on the Hamilton Southeastern School Board.  John is now a candidate for the Fishers City Council, North Central District seat.

John joins Larry Lannan and Mike Fassold in this podcast to talk about his candidacy.

David Giffel was elected by a Republican Party caucus to fill the remaining term of David George when he resigned his council seat in the fall of 2021.  Mr. Giffel has now served nearly 2 years on the Fishers City Council and will face voters in the November general election.

David Giffel sat down with Larry Lannan and Mike Fassold to record this podcast, at the link below.