Smith Valley Road is in for a massive makeover, as Greenwood and Johnson County line up a multi-year overhaul that would widen big chunks of the busy south-side corridor, add separated trails and rebuild several high-traffic intersections to keep cars and trucks moving. The plan would turn key two-lane stretches into four lanes, add multiple roundabouts and build a wider railroad bridge, all intended to cut down on chronic bottlenecks. City leaders have scheduled a public open house on June 11 so neighbors can study the designs and ask how the work might scramble their daily commutes.
What the Plan Includes
According to the Smith Valley Road project website, the corridor plan calls for four-lane widening, a raised median, replacement of the Honey Creek bridge, six roundabouts and 10-foot multi-use trails on both sides of the roadway. Design pages show typical cross sections and spotlight new pedestrian and bike facilities that are intended to tie together nearby neighborhoods, schools and shopping areas.
Timeline, Cost and Who's Paying
The Indianapolis MPO/INDOT listing shows the Greenwood segment from Browning Drive to just west of U.S. 31 will include 10-foot shared-use trails and carry construction totals in the tens of millions, including roughly $56.8 million for a Johnson County section, with construction-phase funding set at about an 80 percent federal share and 20 percent local match, according to the INDOT/IMPO project listing. The regional TIP schedules major construction for the late 2020s and lists multiple county-managed roundabout projects along the corridor. Greenwood also recently received roughly $8.4 million in federal transportation funding through the Indianapolis MPO to help move the expansion forward, based on a city announcement carried by local media.
Schedule and Local Closures
Project phasing materials indicate that eastern portions of the corridor could start construction in 2027, with the work broken into separate phases to avoid shutting down long stretches all at once, according to Smith Valley Road project phasing documents. Some intersections will still have to close temporarily while crews work. One example that drivers will notice quickly: the Smith Valley Road and Madison Avenue intersection is expected to close for about 90 days while a new roundabout is built, as reported by WRTV.
Public Meetings and Next Steps
Greenwood officials are inviting residents to an open house at Greenwood City Center on June 11 at 5:30 p.m., where project maps will be on display and members of the project team will be available to answer questions, according to WTHR. The city’s Board of Public Works has already authorized bond language to cover Greenwood’s share of bridge and segment work, while staff prepare for right-of-way negotiations and property surveys, according to city meeting minutes.
Why It Matters
Planners say the corridor overhaul is aimed at easing day-to-day choke points and improving safety on a road that has seen steady growth and commercial development in recent years. The INDOT/IMPO project listing describes the work as a package of capacity and safety improvements that will add travel lanes, turn lanes, multi-use trails and updated drainage, with the goal of cutting both backups and collisions along Smith Valley Road.
