INDOT Prepares for 21st Street Bridge Project

(posted Nov 1)

INDOT is starting to prepare for the 21st Street bridge replacement project that is part of the I-465 road expansion by filing an NPDES (National Discharge Elimination System) permit with IDEM.

INDOT Public Information Officer Will Wingfield said the purpose of the permit is to show IDEM that the bridge construction will not negatively impact Eagle Creek due to the project's storm water run off.

"A permit was required because the storm runoff leads to Eagle Creek," he said.

Wingfield expects construction bids to be opened in February and construction should commence once the 34th Street bridge replacement is completed. The 21st Street bridge replacement will be similar to the bridge replacements at 34th Street and 46th Street. Wingfield said the bridge projects were staggered to assist with reducing road congestion.

The new 21st Street bridge will be able to accommodate non-motorized traffic on a six foot wide sidewalk. Each side of the bridge is receiving a four to six feet wide shoulder.

Wingfield expects the 46th bridge to be completed by December 2007, and the 34th Street bridge should start by January and finish by June 2008. The 21st Street bridge should start in July and be completed by December 2008.