Sidewalk project announced for dangerous Beech Grove roadway
BEECH GROVE, Ind. (WISH) — Beech Grove city officials announced a new sidewalk project Tuesday along Thompson Road, one of the city’s most dangerous streets for motorists and pedestrians.
Beech Grove Mayor Dennis Buckley says local police officers reported more than 300 accidents in the last six years along Thompson Road between Ninth Street and Emerson Avenue. He says it’s time for something to change.
“The other day I got a call from a resident down there who was mortified because there was a young mother pushing her baby in a stroller on the actual road itself,” said Mayor Buckley. “This project can’t come soon enough.”
Stories began pouring in from residents in the area of accidents and near accidents along Thompson Road.
“I saw last year a gentleman on a bicycle with one of those pull behind carts with a child in it going down the edge of the road. And cars are zipping around it,” said Mike Fisher, a 42-year resident of Beech Grove. “It’s an accident waiting to happen.”
Tuesday morning, a check for $410,836 was ceremonially awarded to the City of Beech Grove by the Indianapolis Metropolitan Planning Organization. Anna Gremling, executive director for the organization, explained the money comes from the federal government, and out of many other proposals, Beech Grove’s Thompson Road multi-use trail was awarded funding.
“We could never do these things under normal budget circumstances,” said Mayor Buckley. “We’ve blessed to have this partnership.”
The sidewalk will replace the carved-out footpath along Thompson Road that dozens of pedestrians use a day. The sidewalk will running past bus stops, an apartment complex, and lead towards several shops and restaurants.
Mayor Buckley explained the sidewalk will take three years to complete, since they money will formally be allotted in increments.
“We hope and were keeping our fingers crossed that they push this project up because it’s a safety project,” said Mayor Buckley.
The estimated completion date is in the fiscal year 2022.
In October 2017, Beech Grove completed a similar safety sidewalk project on the south side of Churchman Avenue from Emerson Avenue to Arlington Avenue.
“I think the absolutely worst scenario that I ever saw was a guy in a wheelchair walking on Churchman Avenue on the road itself, being passed by a semi,” remembered Buckley.
Mayor Buckley says he doesn’t see people walking on that road anymore and hopes that will be the case on Thompson road once the project is complete.