INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The Indianapolis Department of Public Works is scaling back plans for a major road project at the Marion-Johnson county line, moving from a five-lane design to three lanes. Some residents expressed frustration with the new proposal during a public meeting Wednesday at Glenns Valley Elementary School.

The South County Line Road project, in development since 2020, covers more than two miles from the east end of the I-69 interchange to State Road 135.

“The purpose of the project is to improve mobility and safety across the county line corridor,” Indy DPW Chief Engineer Mark St. John said.

The department held the session to explain design changes to dozens of attendees.

“Originally, this was going to be a 5-lane section,” St. John said. “It was going to have two lanes in each direction with a center turn lane. We have reduced that to a 3-lane section, which would be one lane in each direction, with a center 2-way left turn lane.”

St. John said DPW updated the project after new traffic data indicated a three-lane road is safer than five lanes. He said overbuilt roads with too much capacity often lead to unsafe driving.

However, some residents argue the original plan was better for the area’s growth.

“I was excited about the five lanes because I think County Line is busy enough to support it personally,” Desiree Tarter of Johnson County said. “I think Johnson County is growing at a tremendous rate, so I’m trying to figure out how 2025 traffic patterns will help predict that expansion of traffic that might come to the area.”

Ron Haboush of Marion County said he 100% disagrees that the updates will be safer.

“My question is why are we diminishing the amount of lanes when traffic is only going to increase over the next three to four years and not diminish?” he said.

Construction is expected to begin in 2028.