Until April, the 1911 Capitol Avenue bridge across Fall Creek carried more than 17,000 vehicles daily. Closed all summer for long-overdue repairs, it is once again open to traffic. At a November 27 press conference, Mayor Joe Hogsett said major improvements to such critical community assets is a high priority. “Thanks to the hard work of our Department of Public Works (DPW) team and the return of over a million dollars in federal resources to the Indianapolis community, thousands of commuters will once again be able to cross Fall Creek at Capitol each day.”
The $1.7 million rehabilitation of the Capitol Avenue bridge is a federally funded construction project. Project elements included repair of the bridge’s superstructure as well as the replacement of 600 feet of sidewalk and the stone bridge railing.
“This bridge is more than 100 years old, and today it opens with new life to last 100 years or more.” DPW director Dan Parker said during brief remarks. “We know that construction can be inconvenient, but the payoff is worth it as we continue to rebuild our city’s infrastructure.”
According to DPW, construction underneath the bridge continues and will cause daily lane closures in the left turn lane and/or the bike lane. During these lane closures, signs will direct traffic in order to provide safe access for motorists, pedestrians, bikers, and construction crews. DPW reports that this project was a part of the city’s $50 million infrastructure investment for 2017.
