Indiana Street community discussion set for Monday

Work is scheduled to begin Monday, April 14 on the Indiana Street reconstruction project in downtown Greencastle.

The project, part of the City of Greencastle's Stellar Community initiative, will affect the section of Indiana Street from Washington Street to Seminary and the alley between Vine Street and Indiana Street.

Plans call for a total reconstruction of the roadway, alley and sidewalks. Major drainage improvements are also planned as part of the work.

Anyone interested in learning more about the project and its possible impact on the area during the four months of construction is invited to City Hall at 5 p.m. Monday. Residents will have an opportunity to hear from representatives from Rieth-Riley, the construction company awarded the INDOT project, and Leah Cosgrove, the construction engineer overseeing the project on behalf of the city.

Meanwhile, the City Council Tuesday night gave consensus approval to allow changes to traffic flow and parking on Poplar Street during the Indiana Street reconstruction project, which is expected to reach the substantial-completion stage by Aug. 6.

Poplar Street, currently one-way westbound, will be open to two-way traffic between Vine and Indiana streets during the construction. That will allow the Greencastle Fire Department to utilize Poplar Street for ingress and egress while work is ongoing on Indiana Street.

Consequently, there will be no parking allowed along Poplar Street from Vine to Indiana during the duration of the construction project.

Also affected by the work will be parking along Walnut Street between Indiana and Jackson streets, which will be eliminated to allow room for Reith-Riley to stage its construction equipment there.

In receiving City Council approval for the temporary changes, Mayor Sue Murray noted that contractors will be working 10-hour days and six-day work weeks, laboring to fast-track the reconstruction job.

Having the work substantially complete by Aug. 6, she said, will allow Indiana Street to reopen before DePauw University students return to campus to begin the 2014-15 school year.