Carmel project ends as another begins

CARMEL, Ind. (WISH) - A Carmel construction project is ending as another begins along Keystone.

For five months residents and businesses have dealt with detours. But the $14.3 million project is done under budget and just in time for the school year at Carmel High School.

"It's a big intersection for drivers with little experience, so the safety benefits here are huge," said Michael McBride, the City Engineer.

Frank and Shirley Florence live just off of 136th Street. They are ready to take a ride on the new roundabouts.

"We like the roundabouts, but I think that some people don't understand them. And I think they have a problem stopping when they shouldn't stop," said Florence.

The city distributed a video to local driving schools to instruct new drivers about how to approach a roundabout.

As the city celebrates the end of one construction project, the headaches still continues down the road.

The intersection at Keystone and 116th Street is closed on the west side, eventually the east side will close as well.

"Keystone is being depressed and new bridge is being constructed over Keystone," said McBride.

Vacant and For Lease signs are growing in the strip mall on the northwest corner of that intersection.

"It's hard to really tell in these economic times what the indicator is for those things,"

At Mellow Mushroom, customers are still craving the pizza despite the inconvenience of getting there," said McBride.

"It will be a little bit more slow just for a little bit while 116th is closed, like lunches. But for dinner, our business has been doing great all summer with all this construction, I don't think it will affect us much at all," said Manager Holly Hildebrand

City leaders said they continuously meet with local business owners to keep them updated on what roads are open and which ones aren't. The intersection closures will last for the next 30 days.