Purple Line construction to begin in 3 weeks: What to know about road closures and more
Kayla DwyerUpdated to reflect a postponement of one of IndyGo's public events.
Construction on IndyGo's second bus rapid transit route, the Purple Line, is set to begin in a few weeks.
The approximately 15-mile bus line will connect the heart of downtown Indianapolis with the city of Lawrence, effectively replacing IndyGo's current Route 39.
Work to relocate underground utilities is already underway along the corridor. Absent further construction delays or supply chain issues, IndyGo anticipates opening the Purple Line in 2024.
Construction will cost an estimated $188 million, $127 million of which is budgeted for infrastructure improvements such as new sidewalks and drainage systems.
Details: For many along 38th Street, excitement over Purple Line isn't about buses at all
General timeline
Construction will happen in six phases along 38th Street and Post Road, beginning near the State Fairgrounds and generally heading east over the span of 2022 to 2024.
Crews will need to build 18 new bus stations along with medians, crosswalks, new lane configurations to allow for dedicated bus lanes, new or improved sidewalks, crosswalks and curb ramps. In one 2-mile section, they will also separate stormwater and sewer systems into two different pipes, an effort to reduce flooding.
There will be some full closures of sections of road, lasting 10 to 14 days, and some partial closures affecting one direction of travel, lasting 100-130 days.
Overall, about a dozen of these types of closures are planned so far. There will never be two major closures happening at the same time.
A three-week look-ahead on construction activity in each of the six segments will be updated periodically at indygo.net/purple-line/.
The first closures
Several road closures related to Purple Line construction are in the works for the remainder of 2022, but the exact timing will be announced one to three weeks ahead of time.
The first will be on 38th Street between Fall Creek Parkway and Orchard Avenue. This section of road will be closed to traffic in both directions for 10 days, beginning on or before March 1. Five bus stops will be closed during this time, and temporary ones set up along the Route 4 and 39 detour on Fall Creek Parkway, Allisonville Road, 46th Street, and Keystone Ave.
After that, the eastbound lanes of 38th Street from Fall Creek Parkway to Keystone Avenue will close for 130 days. Eastbound Routes 4 and 39 will follow the same detour as before, but westbound traffic won't be affected.
The third planned closure will be the intersection of 38th Street & Keystone Avenue, lasting 10 days and affecting 17 bus stops. Routes 4, 26, and 39 will have to detour.
Detour maps are available at indygo.net/purple-line/purple-line-rider-detours/.
Impacts to businesses
Top of most business owners' minds is how they'll be affected by the lengthy construction outside their doors. Businesses along College Avenue reported lost customers during the construction of the Red Line in 2019.
From 2019: How Red Line construction is affecting businesses
Then as now, IndyGo says it will support businesses with free advertising materials, such as "Open for Business" yard signs and radio spots, and continue holding one-on-one meetings with business owners. IndyGo leaders also believe the long-term benefits — quicker access to destinations along the corridor, improved walkability through new sidewalks and multi-use paths, new road pavement — outweigh the short-term pains.
"I think the main approach is really to be as transparent and open with them as possible," said Lesley Gordon, vice president of communications and marketing.
Learn more and ask questions
IndyGo is holding several public meetings over the next two weeks to take and answer questions.
- Tuesday, Feb. 8: A virtual public meeting from 5:30-6:30 p.m. on Zoom and Facebook live.
- Wednesday, Feb. 9: Open houses from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and 5-8 p.m. at New Direction Church, 5330 East 38th St.
- Thursday, Feb. 10: Open houses from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and 5-8 p.m. at CAFE Indy, 8902 East 38th St.
- Tuesday, March 1: A pop-up drive-through event at Resurrection Community Church from 7-9 a.m., where residents can get information in their cars at the site of the imminent construction zone.
Beginning Feb. 16, IndyGo will host virtual office hours weekly on Wednesdays from 5-6 p.m. Register here.
Contact IndyStar transportation reporter Kayla Dwyer at kdwyer@indystar.com or follow her on Twitter @kayla_dwyer17.