Broad Ripple’s lunch rush hit a sudden slowdown Thursday when a sinkhole opened at the intersection of 65th Street and Cornell Avenue, shutting down the crossing and tangling traffic near the Monon Trail. Barricades quickly went up, lanes were blocked, and the usual midday crowd outside nearby cafes and shops thinned as crews moved in to assess the damage. Local merchants said customers struggled to reach storefronts, and deliveries were rerouted while workers stayed on the scene into the evening.
Sewer collapse forced closures
Citizens Energy Group crews investigated the intersection and found that an underground sewer line had collapsed, prompting an immediate closure of the 65th and Cornell crossing and nearby lanes. Business owners told reporters the excavation work was needed to stabilize the area and that repairs could stretch on for a few more weeks. Drivers were urged to steer clear of the block while the utility worked on the fix, as reported by FOX59.
Businesses say the hit is immediate
Shop owners reported an instant drop in walk-in customers once the barricades went up. "You can only get to us from the north right now," said Jimmy Revard of The Bike Line, while Marigold Clothing owner Elizabeth Shikany said staff were coordinating with the construction team so customers could still reach nearby doors. Those comments, along with social posts documenting the torn-up street, were included in coverage by FOX59.
Why the closure matters and where to get updates
The Cornell and 65th junction sits just steps off the Monon Trail, a heavily used cycling and pedestrian route that feeds directly into Broad Ripple’s main retail strip. That makes any long-term closure especially tough on small businesses that rely on casual trail traffic, as detailed by Indianapolis Monthly. Citizens Energy Group maintains an online outage map and asks customers to report water or sewer problems at 317-924-3311. The utility’s outage page walks residents through how to report an issue and follow repair progress, according to Citizens Energy Group.
Crews remained at the site into the evening, and business owners said they want the job finished quickly so the neighborhood can get back to normal. This article will be updated if officials or utility crews release additional details.
