Carmel, Ind. – On Saturday, April 18th, ribbon cutting celebrations were held at the new roundabout interchanges at 106th and 126th Streets on Keystone Parkway. The ribbon cutting events were intended to thank the area’s residents, churches and schools for their patience and support during the construction of these important projects. The 126th Street interchange opened to traffic later that evening once the roadway striping had dried and the 106th Street interchange opened to traffic immediately after the ribbon was cut.
“The goal of this project has been to create a safer, more efficient roadway that better connects the east and west sides of Keystone. We are already seeing a reduction in the more than 200 accidents that have typically occurred each year along Keystone. Throughout this project, I have received very supportive emails and phone calls from Carmel residents and commuters along Keystone who asked me to ‘stay the course’ and continue to work through the issues because they saw the long-term benefits this project would bring to the community,” said Mayor Jim Brainard.
The 106th and 126th Street and Keystone roundabout interchanges are part of the first phase of a three-year project to lower the grade of Keystone Avenue under six major interchanges along the five-mile stretch. When completed, the north-south traffic on Keystone Avenue will be free-flowing with no traffic lights between 96th Street and 146th Street, and tear-drop shaped roundabouts will manage the east-west traffic flow across new bridges over Keystone.
While roundabout interchanges have occasionally been used in the United States, these Keystone Interchanges are the first that have utilized such a compact design. This design makes these interchanges fit well in an established community.
Both 106th and 126th Street interchanges were bid as one project. The original engineer’s estimate was $33.3 million and the bid for the interchanges was $29.1 million. The unofficial total cost for the 106th and 126th Street interchanges stands within approximately one percent of that bid.
Work still to be finished before the interchanges are considered 100 percent completed includes pouring concrete for railing along bridge and exit/entry ramps, concrete sidewalks on the bridge structures, surface asphalt on Keystone and masonry coating on the retaining walls.
In September of 2007, the State of Indiana relinquished Keystone Avenue to the City of Carmel. The City wanted to assume control of Keystone Avenue to make sure that reconstruction of the road made it safer, better connected the east and west sides of Keystone and that it would be compatible with the surrounding residential neighborhoods. This new design will make it safer and easier for all traffic to cross Keystone, including pedestrians and cyclists.
Below is an update on each intersection being constructed along Keystone Avenue:
106th and 126th Streets: Opened to traffic, April 18th. Work to finalize each interchange continues so expect temporary lane restrictions until all remaining project elements are complete. Construction by Milestone Contractors.
136th Street: Currently closed to east/west traffic at Keystone; expected to open when interchange reaches substantial completion in early August, before the start of school. As a provision of the project, Keystone Avenue is currently closed, just north of 131st Street to US 31, for 45 days, beginning on April 13, 2009. This closure will not affect east/west traffic on 131st Street or traffic heading south from 131st Street. However, thru traffic on Keystone has been detoured west to US31 (Meridian Street). Work by Walsh Construction.
116th Street and Carmel Drive: Reith-Riley Construction is working on the early drainage installation and frontage road system between these two intersections. Bids were opened on March 9, 2009 for the full interchange construction. It is anticipated that 116th Street closures will begin in late May or early June so that the interchange can be functional before the end of the year. Construction on the Carmel Drive interchange will begin in the spring of 2010.
131st Street: The City now has preliminary plans and is rapidly moving forward with the design. Bids for this project will most likely be opened in the fall of 2009 with construction beginning in 2010.
For more information on the project log on to www.CarmelLink.org.
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Media Contact:
Nancy Heck
Director of Community Relations
City of Carmel
One Civic Square
Carmel, IN 46032
(317) 571-2494
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