INDIANAPOLIS — A busy intersection in downtown Indianapolis is getting a major upgrade.
The Indianapolis Department of Public Works said Wednesday that construction on the intersection of Mass Avenue, College Avenue and St. Clair Street will begin later this week as part of a project to improve safety and resurface pavement.
Improvements include:
- Six-inch raised curbing and modular curb extensions.
- Increased on-street parking along College Avenue.
- Crash-rated bollards, rated to withstand impacts at speeds up to 30 mph, along the Indianapolis Cultural Trail.
- Traffic signal adjustments and relocations.
- Lane reconfigurations.
- New pavement markings and striping.
“We wanted to make sure that we incorporated as many safety features as possible given the configuration of the roadway and we saw this as a win-win opportunity, not only for DPW but for the public as a whole,” LeAndre Level Jr., Vision Zero Administrator of Indy DPW said.
Level says the improvements to this intersection come after having conversations with the Mass Ave community following the crash that killed Brandon Breedlove in 2024.
Level says that as part of the city’s Vision Zero Initiative, aiming to eliminate traffic related deaths and serious injuries by 2035, safety projects are essential.
“Everyone can contribute and make sure we have safe streets here in Indianapolis. And in order to have safe streets, we have to design some safe roads and exercise some caution,” Level said.
Indy DPW said the cultural trail and businesses in the area will remain open during construction.
With his business a few blocks down from the intersection, Mike Gillis, one of the owners of WDRFA on the 800 block of Mass Ave, expects construction to impact foot traffic.
“That intersection is a little funky with just the way that it is, with all of the different touch points that people can access, so I hope they can do something cool that can make it a little safer over there,” Gillis said. “Luckily, we do have some other access points over here, but that is one of those main intersections that it can hinder a lot of people from coming, especially this end of Mass Ave.”
Indy DPW says construction is expected to be completed by late November. Gillis is relieved the project will be quick.
“If we know that’s all we have to deal with for a month to make it a safer place for everybody to come down here and be on this 800 block of Mass Ave, then we are all for it.”
