Westfield residents, brace yourselves for a major shake-up to your daily commute. INDOT and Rieth-Riley Construction are set to break ground on the transformative 32 Connects project, starting next month. This ambitious endeavor will see the revamp of State Road 32, kicking off with a closure affecting the stretch between Poplar Street and Union Street starting on or after April 7. As reported by the City of Westfield's official announcement, thoroughfares will be subject to change, and official detours will reroute traffic via U.S. 31 and S.R. 38 during this initial phase which is expected to last until early October.
Communities around Westfield can expect to see this crucial artery of commerce and connection torn up in stages. To quickly adapt to ensure safe and efficient travel, the familiar roundabout at S.R.32, Poplar Street, and Shamrock Blvd. will remain open despite the upheaval. According to the Westfield official news release, Union Street will also shut down from Penn Street to north of Jersey Street through late June, funneling traffic through alternative routes like 181st Street and Hoover Street to maneuver around the construction zone. But, the true test will come when the southern half of S.R. 32 east of Union Street narrows down to a single lane in each direction for reconstruction. To mitigate some of the inconvenience, the northern half east of Union Street will be open to help ease the flow of vehicles eager to navigate around the work sites.
The larger scope of this project not only focuses on the current disruption but also casts its eyes to the horizon of the coming year. Later phases scheduled for late 2025 and into 2026 hint at the vision of a safer and more efficient S.R. 32, amplified with additional roundabouts, pedestrian accommodations, and aesthetic improvements like landscaping. The partnership effort between the City of Westfield and INDOT is poised to lay the groundwork for the area's anticipated expansion and growth, as underscored by the plan detailed on https://www.westfieldin.gov/.
As construction presses forward, motorists have been urged strongly to exercise caution and patience in the face of inevitable delays and detours. In an emphasis on safety, the City of Westfield's advisory reminds drivers to "slow down, avoid distractions, and use extra caution when traveling in and near work zones." This mantra will undoubtedly become a refrain for the everyday traveler weaving through the machinery and construction workers diligently transforming the landscape of State Road 32.
