On cusp of U.S. 231 project, residents’ concerns addressed

Greencastle area residents and business owners can rest assured that officials from the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) and Rieth-Riley Construction don’t want to see any snafus with the upcoming U.S. 231 construction project any more than they do.

That was abundantly clear Wednesday evening during a public information meeting at the Community Building on the Putnam County Fairgrounds.

In fact, Jeremy Tuttle, project superintendent for Rieth-Riley, told the audience he’ll be the one in the conspicuous red Rieth-Riley pickup truck residents will see around town. “Feel free to stop and ask questions,” he said. “We want to make this as easy on you guys as we can.”

“Our intent is to stay in close touch with the city,” added David Holtz, construction director for INDOT’s Crawfordsville District. “The only caveat is that with Covid and some of the things that have come up in the past, it can be out of our control. Our goal is to give you as much time as possible and stay ahead of the issues that can develop with an urban project like this.”

INDOT and Rieth-Riley officials noted that the hours of operation will typically be 7 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday. Access points to businesses, schools, etc. will be maintained at all times and there will be pedestrian detour routes with only one ramp per block closed at any given time. Temporary curb ramps will be placed in areas where maintaining isn’t possible.

Local business owners Lester and Judy Wilson and Rhonda Brotherton were among about 15 residents concerned about various aspects of the project, from access to their businesses to getting in and out of residential driveways to how potential boil orders will be handled (door hangers and phone calls were suggested) when utility work is under way on the project.

The island bump-outs at several downtown locations will be cut out to install 10-foot lanes and then put back, Tuttle said, a pronouncement which caused several in the audience to urge they be removed permanently.

“If it’s not too late,” Lester Wilson suggested, “there might be some discussion of the bump-outs.”

Wilson said that near his business at Washington and Vine, the bump-outs eliminated four parking spaces with one added back in front of the Masonic Temple.

“If you get a big dually truck parked there,” Wilson said, “two semis can’t get through. Parking is always an issue downtown. There’s an issue of safety too. Fire trucks don’t come that way any more.”

Tuttle suggested the bump-out discussion start with local authorities and City Hall.

City Council member Veronica Pejril was in the audience. “I’m listening,” she responded to Wilson’s comments.

Discussion also brought out several topics of interest:

-- Traffic for the Putnam County Fair and other activities at the fairgrounds will be maintained with one lane northbound from the heart of Greencastle and total access, of course, from the north.

-- Pejril asked if any thought was given to the April 8, 2024 total solar eclipse occurring over Putnam County and west-central Indiana, which figures to bring in a significant number of visitors to watch and experience an event occurring over central Indiana for the first time in 819 years.

“Next year the workload will be a bit heavier,” project manager Jennifer Welch said of the timetable. “I don’t see any shortening of the schedule.”

-- The Wilsons who live in the old Miller School apartments noted that they will be cut off from access back home due to the one-way eastbound nature of Anderson Street. They suggested the city look into a temporary two-way traffic designation for Anderson Street east of Arlington Street “so people aren’t boxed in.”

-- Seeing that street lighting will be removed along Bloomington Street during the work, it was suggested that perhaps new lighting could be installed.

Pejril was quick to point out that the city is under contract with Duke Energy to replace the existing lighting with new LED lights.

“Hopefully they could coordinate that rather than put the old ones back up,” Pejril said.

The 2023 construction season is divided into Phase I-A over April-June 2023 and Phase I-B over June-August 2023. Meanwhile, Phase II-D will be August-October 2023, while Phase II-E will be from October-November 2023.

In the first phase, existing northbound Bloomington Street will be closed from Veterans Memorial Highway to Washington Street. Traffic will be one-lane northbound in the existing southbound lane. Resurfacing, pavement reconstruction, concrete curb and concrete sidewalks to be installed.

The second phase of 2023 will see southbound Bloomington Street closed from Veterans Memorial Highway to Washington Street. Traffic will be only one lane northbound with resurfacing, pavement reconstruction, concrete curb and sidewalks slated.

Phase II-D will see southbound Jackson Street closed from Elizabeth Street to Frazier Street with only one-lane traffic northbound as a storm sewer will be installed north of the railroad and pavement reconstruction will be ongoing.

Phase II-E will see a flagging operation on Jackson Street from Elizabeth Street to Frazier Street. Local traffic will be maintained during milling and resurfacing.

For the 2024 construction season, Pre-Phase II will commence in April with the installation of temporary asphalt and curb ramps. Northbound and westbound traffic only will be maintained

Phase II-A, starting in April 2024, will involve constructing waterline, pavement construction, curb and sidewalks. Westbound traffic only on Washington Street from Bloomington Street to Jackson Street.

Phase II-B, slated to begin in early summer 2024, will include water line work, pavement reconstruction, curb and sidewalks. Westbound traffic only on Washington Street from Bloomington Street to Jackson Street.

Phase II-C is also due to begin in summer 2024 with water line, pavement reconstruction, curb and sidewalks.

Phase III of the 2024 construction season will involve installing storm structures, pavement reconstruction, water line work and resurfacing.

Phase III-A of the 2024 season is set for summer-fall with pavement reconstruction, water line work, curb and sidewalks involved. Northbound traffic only on Jackson Street from Washington Street to just past Shadowlawn Avenue. The existing northbound lane will be closed.

Phase III-B of the 2024 season is set for summer-fall with pavement reconstruction, water line work, curb and sidewalks involved. Northbound traffic only on Jackson Street from Washington Street to just past Shadowlawn Avenue. Existing southbound lane will be closed.

Summing up perhaps the thoughts of many in the room, Brotherton -- whose Putnam Inn family restaurant sits alongside one of the most pothole-plagued sections of the highway -- offered, “I’m so happy this is all going go to end. I can remember back when Nancy (Michael who was in the audience) was mayor and I used to light up her phone about that road.”

Lester Wilson agreed. “No pain, no gain,” he said.

The third meeting in the series of INDOT informational sessions will be in March 2024.