A new roundabout will be constructed at the intersection of Graham Road and Paul Hand Boulevard. The picture shows the current roundabout at Graham Road and Commerce Parkway.
Waylon O’Donnell | Daily Journal
Franklin, Johnson County and Whiteland will collaborate on a new roundabout project at the intersection of Paul Hand Boulevard and Graham Road. The unique partnership will see each entity pick up a portion of the $2.4 million project.
The City of Franklin is spearheading the roundabout’s construction and will contribute roughly $1 million. Whiteland has committed to paying $750,000 while Johnson County has committed to $650,000.
“I really appreciate the partnerships with the county and Whiteland,” Franklin Mayor Steve Barnett said. “Knowing what it can do economically for that whole area makes me really proud of this one. I think it shows good faith that the county, the Town of Whiteland and the City of Franklin are working together on safety, traffic flow and economic development.
“When good things happen in the county, and other cities and towns within the county, it is a benefit for the City of Franklin. It works both ways; when good things happen in Franklin, it is good for the rest of the county,” he said.
Franklin City Engineer Mark Richards said that this is the first time the city has collaborated with Whiteland on a project like this, but they routinely collaborate with Johnson County.
Construction will most likely begin around early to mid-August of 2024 and is expected to last no more than 60 days. It will look very similar to the roundabout at the intersection of Graham Road and Commerce Parkway, Richards said.
All participating parties have been in communication regarding the design process, which is nearing completion. The roundabout will include decorative lighting elements similar to some of the surrounding traffic-controlling structures, he said.
“This is a win for everybody,” Richards said. “It is a project that otherwise might not get done. It will provide a safer environment for traffic that travels specifically along the Graham Road corridor, which is heavily traveled by truck traffic.”
Carmen Young, Whiteland director of administration, said that the collaboration helps the communities to be able to complete big projects such as this without looking at the specific jurisdictions of each municipality.
The town’s portion of the funding will be paid through Tax Incremental Financing, or TIF, dollars, which are geographically targeted economic development funds generated from future developments.
Whiteland’s first payment will take place this December.
Johnson County Highway Director Luke Mastin says that even though there are several parties involved in this process, it did not make it more challenging.
“This is an unusual scenario,” Mastin said. “We all have very good working relationships. It is very nice to have entities we share borders with see the big picture and see the mutual benefit in projects such as this. I don’t know if that is the case in every county.”
The intersection has seen a significant increase in traffic as the county has grown, he said. There are multiple businesses planned or already operating in at the intersection of the two roads, with more likely to develop in the near future.
