Columbus is finally flipping the switch from planning to building on its long-discussed Downtown Entrance Plaza makeover, with contractor bids in hand and a short list now in the works. The project targets the split-highway plaza along State Road 46 that frames the Robert N. Stewart Bridge and the Bartholomew County Courthouse, turning what has mostly been a pass-through into a more inviting front door to downtown.
City redevelopment staff say six contractors have thrown their hats in the ring. A selection committee is expected to narrow the field and choose a preferred firm by June 12, with a final contract set to go before the Board of Public Works and Safety on July 28. The bidder list includes Mac Construction & Excavating, Dave O’Mara Contractor Inc., His Constructors Inc., Smock Fansler Corporation, Avenew Roads Inc. and Powers & Sons Construction, according to The Republic.
What’s in the plan
The redesign pulls together the Public Safety Plaza north of State Road 46 and the Robert D. Garton Veterans Plaza to the south into a single, more seamless Robert D. Garton Plaza. The concept calls for native planting gardens, picnic groves, winding paths and amphitheater-style seating. The project’s engagement materials outline three design directions, titled “The River,” “The Field” and “The Hill,” each juggling different mixes of water elements, terracing and structured tree plantings, along with a flexible lawn sized for smaller community events. Lead designer Merritt Chase says the plan focuses on universal accessibility and stronger pedestrian connections across the site.
Design background
The effort is moving through the Columbus Design Institute and Landmark Columbus Foundation as part of a broader Downtown 2030 push to make the city’s main gateway feel more welcoming, according to Columbus Design Institute. “Collaborating with CDI on this project has brought forth remarkable design firms,” Heather Pope, director of the Redevelopment Commission, said on the project’s announcement page.
Funding and schedule
City officials say value engineering has brought the construction estimate down to about $2.9 million, to be covered by a mix of local sources, including a Certified Tech Park fund, a tax increment financing allocation approved in April 2024 and the Railroad Overpass fund. The project is set to follow a buy-operate-transfer procurement approach, with permitting targeted for the fall and construction anticipated to begin later this year and wrap up in early 2027, as reported by The Republic.
If the selection committee and the Board of Public Works and Safety keep the process on schedule, the city could break ground this fall and start welcoming people back into the revamped plaza in 2027. Residents and downtown stakeholders can review design options, download project materials and leave comments on the engagement page managed by the Redevelopment Commission.
