As flowers begin to bloom and birds begin to chirp, drivers begin to navigate around the inevitable spring road projects.
Construction has already started in Franklin, where drivers are following detours in and out of town due to construction along King and Forsythe streets on the east side of the city. Greenwood, county and state projects are expected to kick off in the coming weeks, including significant improvements to Worthsville Road east of Interstate 65 to the Shelby County line, and bridge improvements to I-65’s State Road 44 overpass in Franklin.
All in all, drivers won’t have to navigate around nearly as many road projects this year compared to last year. Most of the city’s road projects will not require major detours as most of the roads will not be closed completely during construction.
In Greenwood, which sees the bulk of Johnson County’s traffic, the biggest road project this year is in an area that doesn’t see a lot of that traffic. Construction is already underway on Worthsville Road east of I-65. That latest section of Worthsville Road reconstruction, which includes straightening and widening the road, is expected to cost more than $2.2 million, said Daniel Johnston, city engineer.
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“That is the biggest single road project this year,” said Kevin Steinmetz, capital projects manager.
In the coming months, other major Greenwood road projects include completely repaving several roads, which will cost taxpayers nearly $1.3 million. Those roads are: Stoneybrook Grove Drive; Stoneybrook Grove Lane; Grove Court; Howard Road from Main Street to Fry Road; Brewer Place from Camby Sreet northward; Fairview North Drive; and Fairview East Drive from Carney Street northward.
Crews will also replace curbs on some of those roads as well, Johnston said.
The city also plans to seal cracks on: Fry Road from U.S. 31 to Madison Avenue; Main Street from Averitt Road to U.S. 31; and Smith Valley Road, he said. That project will cost about $80,000.
And with help from an INDOT Community Crossings Grant, the city will reconstruct the pavement on Rosengarten Drive, Commission Place, Corn Tassel Row, Keyhole Cove, and Wooddale Terrace from Meadow Drive to Carr Street. Construction is expected to start mid-May and continue for 105 days, weather permitting, Steinmetz said.
Also with that grant, they plan to complete a full-depth reclamation of Honey Creek Road, from Stones Crossing Road to Smokey Row Road. Full depth reclamation is a process that rebuilds worn out asphalt pavements by recycling the existing roadway.
That work is also expected to start mid-May, but the construction contract says it should be completed within two months. It is the one project that will likely include a complete road closure and require detours, Steinmetz said.
Another minor project which the city is not paying for but is worth noting is the new traffic signal at Worthsville and Collins roads, near the new Amazon facility. The company has agreed to pay for that as it will benefit it directly, Steinmetz said.
This year’s road projects are nowhere near the extent of last year’s, which included completely changing several of the city’s main intersections — Smith Valley Road at U.S. 31 and Madison Avenue, Emerson Avenue between Main and County Line Road, and Madison Avenue north of downtown.
Greenwood planned to work on the Smith Valley and Meridian Street intersection this year, but they have already completed that project, Steinmetz said.
Greenwood’s focus this construction season will be on three of its city buildings, which will not affect drivers. Those projects include demolition of the former middle school, which has already begun, construction of a new Department of Public Works building near Craig Park and the new fire station near Freedom Park.
One of INDOT’s 1,100 road projects announced by Gov. Eric Holcomb earlier this month will affect Johnson County, said Scott Manning, INDOT’s strategic communications director.
INDOT has a bridge preservation project this year on I-65 over State Road 44 at the Franklin exit.
Construction is slated to begin Monday, but will only affect drivers on weekend evenings via lane restrictions. INDOT plans to wrap up that project in June.
It is expected to cost about $400,000 and will extend the life of the bridge, Manning said.
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Here is a look at the road projects in the works this spring and summer in Greenwood, Franklin and along state highways:
Greenwood
Construction is already underway on Worthsville Road east of Interstate 65. That latest section of Worthsville Road’s reconstruction, which includes widening the road significantly, is expected to cost more than $2.2 million;
Complete repaving of several roads including: Stoneybrook Grove Drive; Stoneybrook Grove Lane; Grove Court; Howard Road from Main Street to Fry Road; Brewer Place from Camby Sreet northward; Fairview North Drive; and Fairview East Drive from Carney Street northward;
The city will also replace curbs on some of those roads;
Sealing cracks on Fry Road from U.S. 31 to Madison Avenue, Main Street from Averitt Road to U.S. 31, and Smith Valley Road;
Pavement reconstruction on Rosengarten Drive, Commission Place, Corn Tassel Row, Keyhole Cove and Wooddale Terrace from Meadow Drive to Carr Street;
Full-depth reclamation of Honey Creek Road from Stones Crossing Road to Smokey Row Road;
A new traffic signal at Worthsville and Collins roads, near the new Amazon facility. The company has agreed to pay for that as it will benefit it directly.
Franklin
Forsythe Street from north of Jefferson Street to north of King Street is closed. The entire three-year project renovating King and Jefferson streets is slated to be completed this year;
A roundabout is planned at Arvin and Hurricane roads and Eastview Drive. Construction on the roundabout is estimated to begin on April 1. Construction will not close roads, although Amy Lane can be used as a detour. The project should be finished by the beginning of July;
About 100 new downtown parking spots will be added on South Main Street;
Sidewalks will be added on West Jefferson Street from the fairgrounds entrance toward Westview Drive. No roads will be closed and the project will start in July;
Alleys between Banta and Adams streets and between Ohio and Samuel streets are expected to be rebuilt starting in July.
State
INDOT has a bridge preservation project in the works on I-65 over State Road 44 at the Franklin exit. Construction will begin April 1, but will only affect drivers on weekend evenings via lane restrictions. INDOT plans to wrap up that project in June.
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