I had to be out of town for the big State Road 37 news conference on Thursday, December 10th.  But after reading the news release and Lindsey Erdody’s story on the Indianapolis Business Journal Web site, there is a lot we know now that wasn’t clear before.

The Fishers part of the project will cost $124 million, with the state, Hamilton County and the City of Fishers all agreeing to share the cost.  The stretch of road from 146th street north into Noblesville is not part of this plan, but is expected to be added in the not-too-distant future.

Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness was able to get Governor Mike Pence to allow the city to control the construction period, then hand off the highway to the state once the road is completed.  This allows Fishers to control access for businesses along State Road 37 that will be impacted during the construction period, which is expected to last for at least 3 years.  Construction is not expected to start until 2-3 years from now.

Fadness clearly has an interest to protect the businesses along the road.  There are many long-time business operations there, along with recent additions in places like Fishers Marketplace at 131st  Street.  The city has a stake in keeping those business locations viable and accessible during the construction period, and Mayor Fadness received a major concession from the state allowing his administration to be in charge of the construction phase.

Bill Smythe, owner of Claude & Annie’s restaurant and bar at 141st & State Road 37, has been trying to organize business owners along the highway to have a say in the plans.

Both the Fishers City Council and the Hamilton County Council must approve the funding. Fadness told IBJ he will propose issuing bonds backed by property tax revenue to finance the city’s $12 million part of the cost, saying only a “minimal” tax increase, at most, would result.

In the years to come, State Road 37 will look more like Keystone Avenue in Carmel.  The highway engineers say this will help address the added traffic yet to come from future growth and keep 37 moving during the rush hours.

Public hearings are required by law for a project of this size. I would also expect a number of meetings with residents to happen as the construction plans move forward.  Stay with
LarryInFishers for the latest.