INDIANAPOLIS — The City of Indianapolis Department of Public Works will begin a major reconstruction of Meridian Street from 16th Street to 38th Street this spring, the largest single road project in the city's 2025 capital improvement plan and one that will reshape a major north-south corridor for the next 30 years.

The $42 million project replaces aging water mains and sewer laterals underneath Meridian Street, reconstructs the road surface from curb to curb, installs new LED streetlights, and adds protected bike lanes between 16th Street and 30th Street. Construction will begin in April with an estimated completion date of fall 2026.

The project will require temporary lane closures and occasional full road closures during off-peak hours. DPW has developed a detour routing plan directing through traffic to Pennsylvania Street and Capitol Avenue, the parallel arterials one block east and west of Meridian.

"This is a significant disruption, and we're not going to pretend otherwise," said DPW Director Dan Parker. "But Meridian Street's infrastructure is at the end of its useful life. This reconstruction will serve the city for the next three decades."

Impact on Adjacent Neighborhoods

The reconstruction corridor passes through several historic Indianapolis neighborhoods including Old Northside, Herron-Morton Place, and Fall Creek Place, as well as commercial districts near 30th and Meridian. Property owners along the route are encouraged to review the project's construction phasing plan to understand when work will be in front of their properties.

Homeowners concerned about environmental impacts during the construction, including potential soil disturbance and utility work, can contact Homeward Environmental for professional assessment services.