Nathan Riggs, Indiana Department of Transportation media relations director, told those in attendance at a meeting Monday in city council chambers that the road closures involved will be phased to allow maximum local access.

“We want to keep state highway traffic on state highways, but local residents and businesses will be able to get in and out,” Riggs said.

John Sweet, Milestone’s project manager, also emphasized that Broad Street will remain open to local traffic.

“We will maintain access through the project,” Sweet said. “We’re still going to have to maintain access for sanitation, emergency services, school buses. There will be access. It won’t be completely closed off.”

A signed detour will direct non-local traffic south to I-70 via Ind. 1 and 109.

“We don’t want semi’s trying to get down your side streets,” Riggs said.

Work is scheduled to begin on the east side of town and progress west. The first phase includes Broad Street from 31st to 25th Street. Access to and from 31st will remain open. Other intersections in this section, including 25th Street, may be closed, but access will remain open at either 26th or 27th Street.

The project will improve two miles of Broad Street. Pavement east of 15th Street will be completely rebuilt while pavement west of 15th Street will be rehabilitated. The project includes replacing sections of curbs and sidewalks, modernizing curb ramps to make them ADA compliant and improving storm water drainage structures within the project limits.

Work is expected to reach the vicinity of 15th Street around Aug. 1 and continue west to Memorial Drive.

Council president Mark Koger noted this project will be an inconvenience for local residents and businesses, but that it should be worth it.

“I think we’re going to see great improvements for Broad Street,” Koger said. “I just encourage people to be patient. ... It can be frustrating, but sometimes progress comes with pain.”

Mayor Greg York noted that while the city is paying to relocate a few utility features and for some other minor elements, the bulk of this project is being paid for with state and federal funds. He also urged local residents and businesses to be patient while the work is underway.

“This is going to be beautiful when it’s done,” the mayor said. “There are some patches that are in bad shape, so I hope everyone will be patient. They hope to get it done this year. It’s really a two-year project, but they’re going to do everything they can to get it done before the end of the year. I just hope everyone will think about the big picture and how nice it will be when it’s done.”

The Broad Street project is being coordinated with what is expected to be extensive repairs to the railroad crossing just east of 15th Street.

Ind. 38 is expected to be fully open to traffic by the end of the year, and all work on the contract is expected to be complete before the summer of 2018.

For more information and updates on the Broad Street project go to www.in.gov/indot/3560.htm.

Broad Street Project Facts

Broad Street, from the east side of town to Ind. 3, will be the focus of a pavement replacement and rehabilitation project from now through the end of the year. Here are a few things area residents may want to keep in mind.

n 12th Street will remain open to north/south traffic throughout the project.

n 15th and 18th streets will not be closed at the same time.

n 18th and 25th streets will not be closed at the same time.

n 25th and 31st streets will not be closed at the same time.

n Mail, emergency vehicles and trash collection on Broad Street should not be effected.

n Residents will have access to their driveways throughout the project.

n Access to all Broad Street businesses will be available throughout the project.

n Sidewalks on at least one side of Broad St. will be available at all times.