Mayor Ballard Announces 56th Street Bridge Rehabilitation Project

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Investment will Result in Improved Public Safety and Improved Connectivity

INDIANAPOLIS – Mayor Greg Ballard today announced the rehabilitation of the 56th Street bridge over Eagle Creek Reservoir. City-County Councillor Janice McHenry joined Mayor Ballard in announcing the 56th Street bridge project, which will be constructed by Janssen and Spaans Engineering Inc. and will cost approximately $1,154,400.

“Historically the City rehabilitates two to three bridges each year. The 56th Street bridge project is one of the 27 bridges we are rehabilitating through the RebuildIndy initiative this year alone,” said Mayor Ballard. “Thousands of motorists travel over our City’s bridges each day. Because of this, improvements to our bridges are more than just simple infrastructure improvements – they are a matter of public safety.

The improvements to the 56th Street bridge will include complete rehabilitation and replacement of the existing deck and railings. The project will coincide with other planned projects for the causeway across the reservoir, including a lift station, force main project and resurfacing project. Residents will notice better driving conditions and greater safety for area drivers and commuters.

“Knowing that in the past there were two to three bridges rehabilitated throughout the county and that this year there will be three bridges out of 27 repaired in my district is very exciting,” said Councillor McHenry. “These bridges are all long overdue for improvements. Knowing that at least one more bridge is scheduled for next year along with all of the repaving projects is such an improvement for this area of the city.”

Traffic will be limited to one lane in each direction during the construction project, which is expected to be completed in Fall 2011. For more information about the RebuildIndy program, visit www.indy.gov/RebuildIndy. To request a RebuildIndy project in your area, call the Mayor’s Action Center at (317) 327-4MAC (4622). Residents also may follow RebuildIndy project updates on Twitter via @RebuildIndy.

Utility Extends Voluntary Request for No Lawn Watering through Friday

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High Water Usage Continues; Numerous Main Breaks Due to System Stress; Results in Low Pressure and Could Affect Firefighting

INDIANAPOLIS – The Indianapolis Department of Waterworks (DOW) is extending its voluntary request for both residential and non-residential customers to stop watering lawns through Friday, July 29 in the wake of continued lack of rain, high heat, and high water consumption.

The utility issued its initial voluntary request on Wednesday; water consumption, mostly for lawn irrigation, has remained high and is stressing the underground infrastructure. Water main breaks have been steadily increasing in both number and severity since late last week.

“The system is definitely feeling the stress of these past two weeks,” said Matthew Klein, executive director of the Indianapolis Department of Waterworks, owner of Indianapolis Water. “We are seeing more significant water main breaks, periods of low water pressure, and a definite impact on the ability to assist in the event of a major fire.”

The request to voluntarily refrain from lawn watering is for all customers, including individual residential customers, apartment complexes, commercial parks, and industrial facilities.

Indianapolis Water will reevaluate the voluntary request on Friday and make a determination about whether to extend or relax the request at that time.

On an average day, Indianapolis Water pumps 140 million gallons of clean, fresh drinking water. Consumption in the IW service territory has been at or above 200 million gallons per day since July 11, and the utility is struggling to refill storage tanks after peak hour demands.

The Department of Waterworks owns and manages Indianapolis Water, which serves nearly one million people in central Indiana, and contracts the system’s operation to Veolia Water Indianapolis.

Road Construction Work Next Week in and near Northwest Outer Region

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PIKE TOWNSHIP

The 38th Street project from I-465 to I-65 extends into Pike Township. Please see the project details under Wayne Township.

Michigan Road from 76th Street to Double Tree Boulevard may have restrictions as storm sewer work and the creation of a pedestrian trail is underway.

Construction is underway on Georgetown Road from 30th Street to 38th Street.

Construction is underway on Conarroe Road from 79th Street to 86th Street.

Replacement of the bridge deck and railing on the 56th Street bridge over Eagle Creek has begun. Two-way traffic is being maintained in the eastbound lanes over the bridge. A partial road closure is in place on 56th Street from Dandy Trail to the Eagle Creek Golf Course.

Construction is underway on Lafayette Road from 71st Street to North White River Parkway West Drive. This project also extends into Pike Township.

Some restrictions may be in place as work is underway on a pedestrian trail on Michigan Road from Kessler Boulevard to 75th Street. This project also extends into Washington Township.

Resurfacing work is underway on Inland Drive from Eagle Creek Parkway to West 46th Street.

Resurfacing work is underway on Eagle Creek Parkway from 38th Street to 46th Street.

Educational Seminar on Eagle Creek Water

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The Town of Zionsville, the Eagle Creek Watershed Alliance, and the Boone Co. Soil & Water Conservation District are happy to announce a free educational seminar to be held on July 28th.

Join us for this free event where local experts will outline the problems with water quality in our area, including pollution from pharmaceuticals, bacteria like E. coli, nutrients from lawn fertilizers, and others. We will also discuss the sources of these problems and how homeowner associations and individual residents can do their part to clean it up. The Town of Zionsville will discuss the proposed stormwater utility, and then time will be given at the end for questions and exploring resources available to help you make a difference.

The event will be held in the Community Room of the Zionsville Town Hall on July 28th from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm. Registration is free, but for planning purposes, please register by emailing sreinhart@empowerresults.com or calling (765) 586-8511.

List Of Locations In Indianapolis Designated As Cooling Centers

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INDIANAPOLIS – The City of Indianapolis in partnership with the Marion County Public Health Department and the Indianapolis Division of Homeland Security today announced the activation of the Extreme Temperature Contingency Plan. Below are the locations and hours of operations for community centers designated as cooling sites as well as a list of Indy Parks spray grounds. Additionally, attached find a document listing the locations and hours for Indy Parks facilities serving as cooling centers. To see the news release issued earlier today, please visit http://tinyurl.com/3d54l65.

Community Centers

Community Alliance for the Far Eastside, 8902 E. 38th St.
9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Concord Center, 1310 S. Meridian St.
6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Will extend to 8 p.m.

Flanner House, 2424 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. St.
6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Forest Manor, 5603 E. 38th St.
8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Will extend to 8 p.m.

John Boner, 2236 E. 10th St.
8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Martin Luther King Multi Service Center, 40 W. 40th St.
8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Will extend to 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Mary Rigg Neighborhood Center
8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Southeast Multi-Service Center
8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Salvation Army Eagle Creek Corps, 4400 N. High School Road

Salvation Army Fountain Square Corps, 1337 Shelby St.

Individuals going to the sites are encouraged to contact the Marion County Public Health Department Call Center for current hours of operation for each site, as they may change throughout the week. The Call Center number is 221-2415.

Indy Parks Spray Grounds Open Dawn to Dusk

Andrew Ramsey Park
310 W. 12th St.

Arsenal Park
1400 E. 46th St.

Bowman Park
3600 Auburn Road

Centennial and Groff Park
2300 Centennial St.

Christian Park
1200 English Ave.

Haughville Park
500 Bellview Place

Clayton and LaSalle Park
401 S. LaSalle St.

Municipal Gardens
1831 Lafayette Road

Washington Park
3130 E. 30th St.

Willard Park
1700 E. Washington St.

Windsor Village Park
6510 E. 25th St.

61st and Broadway Park
6051 N. Broadway St.

Riverwood Park
7201 Crittenden Ave.

Wes Montgomery Park
3400 N. Hawthorne Lane

Grassy Creek Park
10510 E. 30th St.

Water Company Requests No Lawn Watering through Sunday

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High Water Usage Results in Low Pressure and Could Affect Firefighting

INDIANAPOLIS – The Indianapolis Department of Waterworks (DOW) is asking customers to stop watering their lawn through Sunday, July 24, in the wake of this week’s high heat and lack of rain.

Previously, DOW requested customers to perform lawn watering on an every other day schedule. However, water consumption across central Indiana has continued to increase steadily since last week. Indianapolis Water, the region’s largest drinking water utility, pumped 215 million gallons (MGD) of water yesterday, compared with an average of 140 million gallons a day. Consumption is on track to top 220+ million gallons today.

“We are asking our customers to curtail lawn-watering activities in order to maintain adequate water pressure for our customers and firefighting activities,” said Matthew Klein, executive director of the Indianapolis Department of Waterworks, owner of Indianapolis Water.

Due to increased demand, some Indianapolis Water customers may already notice low water pressure. The utility will reevaluate this request to cease all lawn watering on Monday, and may return to the odd/even schedule if the excessive demand subsides.

Customers are also asked to voluntarily practice the following wise water use guidelines at all times:

· Repair or replace leaking water fixtures;
· Run water appliances, such as clothes washers and dishwashers, when they are full;
· Turn off the water while brushing teeth or shaving;
· Use a higher lawnmower setting to provide natural ground shade and promote the soil’s water retention;
· Wash cars with a bucket of soapy water and use a nozzle to stop the flow of water from the hose between rinsing;

· Cover swimming pools to reduce evaporation; and
· Retrofit low-performance fixtures with high-performance WaterSense-labeled fixtures.

The Department of Waterworks owns and manages Indianapolis Water, which serves nearly one million people in central Indiana, and contracts the system’s operation to Veolia Water Indianapolis.