INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis Department of Public Works is gearing up for a major project on the 16th St. bridge over the White River.
Neighbors we talked to in the area acknowledge the bridge could use some work.
“Terrible, it’s degraded,” said Vinson Slaughter. “It feels like it want to crumble, the potholes in it, and it’s a bridge so you want it to be in the best condition.”
Slaughter said he is a lifelong northwest side resident and uses the 16th St. bridge daily.
Driving along the bridge, you’ll see patching from years of potholes, and if you look at the structure itself, you’ll see some spots deteriorating.
“As I understand it, this bridge was originally be constructed in 1946,” said Indy DPW Director Brandon Herget.
Herget said one DPW worker told him he’s filled potholes on the bridge for the last 11 years. Now, the bridge is getting some work.
“A refresh that will include better pedestrian facilities and provide the same historical significance, cultural significance with the architecture and the facade,” Herget said.
But, Herget said DPW has to think about how northwest side residents will get over the White River. The 30th St. bridge has been under construction for nearly two years now since the summer of 2022.
”It’s been a hassle, because no one can get across,” Slaughter said. “No one can get access to the highway. You got to go all the way down Riverside to get to 16th Street.”
The DPW plan is always to have one bridge open as the construction projects crossover. Work on the 16th St. bridge will start this summer, but crews will not be closing lanes.
“We’re going to be working on the substructure and in the river banks and underneath on the channel, and then starting next year we’ll get to the decking and resurfacing on top of the bridge,” Herget said.
By the time Indy DPW is ready to close 16th St. bridge to traffic in June of 2025, they’re hopeful the 30th Street bridge will be back open. The schedule now is to reopen the bridge that May.
“We’ll stay on schedule, but not burden residents with two bridges being out at once,” said Mayor Joe Hogsett, D-Indianapolis.
But, even without the projected closures crossing over, Slaughter said back to back bridge projects means a rough few years for him and his neighbors commutes
“Chaos, it’s going to be a traffic jam for real,” he said.
Once the 16th St. bridge is closed, DPW expects the project to take two years. Slating it to be reopened in Summer 2027. The entire project is expected to cost more than $17 million.
