INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis Department of Public Works announced that construction on College Avenue near Massachusetts Avenue is nearing completion.
The project, which started last spring, was designed to convert College Avenue from a one-way street to a two-way road. College Avenue will officially open to two-way traffic between Market and St. Clair Streets sometime in mid-February, according to a press release from Indy DPW.
“Transportation in the City of Indianapolis has changed a lot in our 200-year history,” Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett said via release. “From horses, to bikes, to trolleys, to cars, to buses, to electric vehicles, our infrastructure has accommodated just about anything on wheels. And — as residents and visitors continue to evolve in the ways they get around — so must the City’s infrastructure.”
Indy DPW reported that the College Avenue project cost approximately $3.6 million. The construction plan adhered to the city’s Complete Streets Policy, which aims to promote driver, cyclist and pedestrian safety.
“Indy DPW’s continued efforts to create safer, more inclusive modes of travel for all of Indy’s residents are exemplified in this project and is something we are continuing to implement county-wide,” Indy DPW Director Brandon Herget said via release. “We know two-way conversions, specifically, are something neighborhoods want to see to fix divisions within their neighborhoods.”
Indy DPW is advising those that frequently travel near College Avenue to keep the traffic pattern change at the top of their minds. City officials believe College Avenue’s traffic pattern change will lead to an uptick in cyclist and pedestrian travel in the area.
“The transformation of College Avenue into a two-way street marks a significant change for the neighbors and community around this section of College Avenue,” Vice President of the Lockerbie Square Neighborhood Association said via release. “This change enhances traffic flow and revitalizes the neighborhood with a renewed sense of safety, connectivity and vibrancy.”
