Some residential areas of Fishers will soon see new speed limits, based on an action Monday by the Fishers Board of Works and Public Safety.  Most of the changes will come in the Gray Eagle area.  The impacted streets will now see 25 mile-per-hour limits.  You can see the entire list of streets with new speed limits at this link.

The board awarded a $388,000 contract to E&B Paving for resurfacing of  131st Street between Brooks School Road and Olio Road.  Work is expected to begin on the project around July 11th and will continue through September 12th.

The board voted to consider a land dedication from Eller Trails to City of Fishers for Heritage Park.  Now a detailed contract will be drawn-up for the land transfer.  The Eller Trails subdivision has offered the land to the city.  You can view a map of the area with the proposed land dedication at this link.

More overnight lane closures are coming this week along the construction zone on I-69 in Fishers.  Below is the news release from the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT).

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Walsh Construction Company plans to close lanes of northbound Interstate 69 this week between 82nd Street (Exit 201) and 116th Street (Exit 205) for construction of the new 106th Street interchange.

Crews are building two new bridges over I-69, one for each direction of traffic on 106th Street, and will be pouring concrete piers in the interstate median.  Multiple left lane closures should be expected.  The following schedule is subject to change and will be updated as work progresses:

• Monday, July 11 – northbound I-69 will have three left lanes closed from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
• Tuesday, July 12 – northbound I-69 will have three left lanes closed from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
• Wednesday, July 13 – northbound I-69 will have three left lanes closed from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.

The speed limit near the construction zone at mile marker 204 is reduced to 55 mph and may be reduced further to 45 mph when workers are present.  Motorists are advised to pay attention to work zone warning signs, follow posted speed limits and keep a safe following distance from other motorists.  

I have been preoccupied with my daughter’s wedding for several days, but it has been impossible to miss the turmoil facing our nation at this point in time.   Let’s try a little perspective here.

First, I was born in 1951, meaning most of my formative years were during the 1960s.  At that time, we had race riots, we had violence such as the burning and bombing of university ROTC buildings and libraries, and the divisions in the country were great.  Sound familiar?

I am not downplaying what has happened lately.  I’m just saying that in the not-so-distant past, we saw turbulent and violent times.

I find it interesting that a South African comic, Trevor Noah, talked about our divide in a way Americans don’t.  He said on his Comedy Central program The Daily Show that we Americans get hung up on preconceived ideas.  If you are pro-black, people assume you are anti-cop.  If you are pro-police, you are assumed to be anti-black.

Here’s Noah’s quote that struck me.  “You can be pro-cop and pro-black, which is what we should all be.”

That’s what I believe.  There is no justification at all for gunning down and killing police officers.  None at all.

It is equally as difficult to watch fatal shootings of black men without justification.

This is not a time to run to our ideological corners.  This is a time for most Americans to join together and advocate for what’s right.

I have covered the police beat as a reporter.  Most cops are hard working people doing their best to perform a very tough job.  I have a world of respect for the men and women doing this job day in and day out, and doing it the right way.  Imagine that your work shift every day was being called to the worst situations happening in your community.  That is the job of a police officer.

But like any profession, not every cop does the job the correct way.  The numbers dictate there will be a certain number of officers that do not get the job done they way they should.  We shouldn’t condemn all officers because there are a certain number of bad cops.

I also believe the reputation police officers have in many African-American neighborhoods is there for a reason.  Those residents do not trust the police to protect them.  Instead, cops are seen more like an occupying, oppressive presence in their communities.  That is not good for the law-abiding residents of those areas, or for the police officers assigned to those neighborhoods.

I have seen some amazing signs of good in all this bad news.  For example, in Fishers, local residents sent pizza to the local police headquarters, just to show the officers people care.

I will make a small suggestion to anyone reading this commentary.  It’s time for the good people of Fishers, Indiana and America to step forward.  Let it be known that you want a healing process to begin.

We do not want police targeted.  We do not want black males to be unfairly targeted.

If you believe as I do, use the hashtag #StepForward and let everyone know you are ready to be part of the solution and not be one to make the problem worse.

It’s up to each of us, as Americans, to let everyone know it is time to step forward.  It’s time for good people to push hard to do the right thing.  If enough of us do that, perhaps a movement will begin.  I can only hope.

I will start this story with a confession.  Even though I love most forms of art, I don’t always understand all art.

The Fishers Arts Council is partnering with the City of Fishers to unveil a new kind of art to the state of Indiana.  The important word to know is – “hydrophobic.”

If you are unfamiliar with the word hydrophobic, it means resistant to water.  Hydrophobic paint is used in many cities with rainy climates, such as Seattle and London.  It has not been utilized by artists in Indiana, until now.  Even though the paint is resistant to water, the artist says you can only see this artwork of there is rain or water is poured.

On Tuesday at 6:30pm, just before the Tuesday night concert at the downtown Nickel Plate Amphitheater, artist Jessica Springman will introduce “INvisible Art” – a roughly 120-foot linear installation on two sidewalks surrounding Central Green in downtown Fishers’ Nickel Plate Art District.

The hydrophobic paint will be utilized for this project.  Springman used 76 hand-cut stencils and Rust-oleum’s NeverWet Multisurface paint to create the piece.

The paint is non-toxic and non-permanent, although the art will be visible for up to two years depending on traffic and other wear and tear on the sidewalks.  The stencils range in size from 17” x 17” to 34” x 34” and are positioned along both the east and west sidewalks adjacent to Central Green. Because of the nature of the paint, the installation only will be visible when it rains or if water is poured onto the designs.

The project was funded by a grant in 2015 from the City of Fishers to create public art projects that add vitality to the Nickel Plate District. Other grant funds are being used this year for live music during the upcoming Fishers Arts Crawl on July 15 and for additional public art installations and performances.

This new art will be unveiled just before the concert featuring Parrots of The Caribbean.

Feel free to drop by Tuesday evening and take a look at this new art display.

I haven’t been posting much on this site the past few days and there is a very good reason why.  My daughter Allison married Jacob Lewis July 8th, meaning I have gained a very special son-in-law.

Weddings are very complicated events these days.  My wife Jane was in charge, and everything went well.  All attending complimented Jane, Allison and all the others involved in making this a special day for Allison and Jacob.

We welcome Jacob, his parents Bill and Sherry, and all the rest of the Lewis family into our own clan.

Final note to all the Dads reading this….your little girls grow up fast.

The City of Fishers has released another ambitious list of street & road projects for the work week starting Monday, July 11th.

Here’s the listing, as provided by city officials

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BRIDGE REPLACEMENT

Continuing this week, the bridge on 106th Street between Allisonville Road and Hague Road will be closed by the Hamilton County Highway Department for replacement. Detour routes will be displayed in the area and access to local traffic will be permitted for residents and businesses. Please direct any questions about this project toalison.krupski@hamiltoncounty.in.gov.

BROOKS SCHOOL ROAD

Please expect lane restrictions on Brooks School Road between 116^th Street and 126^thStreet from Wednesday, July 8 through Friday, July 10. Restrictions will allow for contractors to perform paving activities from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., daily.

CURB REPAIRS

A contractor will be repairing curb ramps in The Bristols throughout the coming weeks. Please anticipate periodic lane restrictions in that area.

FALL CREEK TRAIL

Fall Creek Trail reconstruction work continues; The Fall Creek Trail project between 96th Street and Brooks School Road will have periodic lane closures for paving operations. Please travel with caution, construction barrels have reduced the existing northbound lane width.

I-69 AND CAMPUS PARKWAY

Milestone Contractors has begun mobilizing cranes and other equipment and setting a temporary concrete barrier wall along I-69 at Campus Parkway Exit 210. Work will require alternating lane closures on northbound and southbound I-69 between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. Lane closures may recur each night through the end of the week depending on weather and progress. Questions about this project should be directed to INDOT ateastcentralin@indot.in.gov or 1-855-463-6848.

I-69 TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS

INDOT is overseeing an overnight closure on multiple traffic lanes on I-69 overnight this week to continue demolition of the 106th Street overpass bridge. Weather permitting, lane closures and rolling slowdowns of traffic will begin after 9 p.m. and are expected to end before 6 a.m. the next day. Construction schedules and traffic restrictions are subject to change, and questions should be directed to INDOT at indot.carsporgram.org, 1-800-261-ROAD (7623) or 511 from a mobile phone.

STATE ROAD 37

Various general survey work has begun along the State Road 37 corridor. Work will take place starting at the 126th Street intersection. Learn more at www.Fishers.in.us/SR37.

96^th STREET

Fishers Department of Public Works will be performing street repairs on 96th Street between Lantern Road and I-69 beginning Tuesday, July 12th and ending on Tuesday, July 19th. Repairs will take place between the hours of 9 p.m. and 6 a.m., please use caution when traveling in the area.

96th STREET AND CARROLL ROAD

The pedestrian path near the intersection of 96th Street and Carroll Road will be closed due to wall repair work. Periodic lane closures may be utilized for the eastbound travel lanes. Please use caution when traveling through the construction area.

106th STREET INTERCHANGE

INDOT has begun work on the 106th Street interchange. A lane shift is currently in place on I-69 and 106th Street is closed as construction continues. Additional details about this project will be released through INDOT and shared on the weekly construction update. Please be advised the speed limit from 82nd Street to 116th Street has been reduced to 55 mph and there are lane shifts on I-69. Please travel with caution and pay close attention to signage in the area.

116th STREET

• There may be short-term lane restrictions on eastbound 116th Street between USA Parkway and Exit Five Parkway while utility work is being completed. Nightly lane restrictions will also be in place on 116^th Street between Commercial Drive and USA Parkway between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. beginning the night of July 6th.

• Lane restrictions will be in place between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. for eastbound and westbound traffic on 116^th Street west of Olio Road. Restrictions will allow for median and drive entrance construction.

126th STREET

• Continuing this week, there will be intermittent lane restrictions for westbound traffic just west of Promise Road. These restrictions will allow the contractor to construct the entrance into Granite Ridge subdivision. Advance warning signs will be in place including a directional arrow board, as needed.

• Temporary lane restrictions will be in place on 126th Street between Cyntheanne Road and Atlantic Road in order for shoulder work to be completed. Please drive with caution in the area.

Now that the 4th of July holiday is behind us, look for construction to accelerate along I-69 in the Fishers area and at Exit 210.

Below is a detailed update from the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT).

I-69 traffic shift tonight begins construction of added lane

I-69 added travel lane

Milestone Contractors plans to shift northbound I-69 traffic lanes tonight between State Road 37 (Exit 205) and Campus/Southeastern Parkway (Exit 210) to begin construction of an additional travel lane in the median.

Next week, crews will set temporary concrete barriers along the interstate median and begin construction of an additional travel lane along northbound I-69.  Southbound lanes in the same section are scheduled to be shifted later this month

Shifting northbound traffic lanes and setting concrete barriers will require lane closures between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. through next week.

Campus/Southeastern Parkway Exit 210

Construction of the new double-crossover diamond interchange configuration is underway as Milestone this week narrowed Campus Parkway traffic lanes to 11 feet wide, set temporary concrete barrier along the bridge over I-69, and started earthwork for the new interchange ramps.

Drivers may experience temporary traffic restrictions and short-term delays as crews modify paint markings for the temporary configuration and set concrete barriers between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m.

Motorists will notice an increase in construction activity at the interchange and should be alert for workers in the area and trucks entering and exiting the roadway.

The first phase of interchange construction will widen the bridge over I-69 and begin building the new ramps.  Later this summer, traffic will be shifted into a double-crossover diamond configuration, which is intended to improve traffic flow during construction of the permanent interchange improvements.

For more information about construction at the interchange, go to http://www.in.gov/indot/3441.htm.

Interstate 69 patching & paving

Milestone Contractors plans to continue paving an asphalt overlay on southbound I-69 south of Campus/Southeastern Parkway (Exit 210) to State Road 37 (Exit 205).

Crews will also continue patching existing northbound pavement north of Exit 210.  The patching operation will continue north over the next several weeks to the end of the project limits, which is just past State Road 38 (Exit 219), before returning southbound on I-69 back to Exit 210.

Milestone is repairing pavement on about 15 miles of interstate before paving a new asphalt overlay on existing lanes.  Motorists may temporarily experience rough pavement after sections are patched and before sections are paved.

Weather permitting, patching and paving operations require alternating lane closures six nights a week on Monday through Saturday nights from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m.  One lane of I-69 will remain open at all times, and two lanes will remain open during peak daytime travel times.

The speed limit on I-69 through the work zone is reduced to 60 mph and further reduced to 50 mph when workers are present.  Motorists should also be alert for trucks entering and exiting the highway through the construction zone.

About the project

INDOT and the Indiana Finance Authority (IFA) selected a $92 million proposal from Milestone Contractors and United Consulting to add a travel lane and rehabilitate 15 miles of I-69 in Hamilton and Madison counties as part of Indiana’s Major Moves 2020 program.  The project will:

• Resurface 15 miles of existing interstate pavement;
• Rehabilitate existing interstate bridges and drainage structures;
• Add a third travel lane to the interstate median in each direction from State Road 37 (Exit 205) in Fishers to north of State Road 38 (Exit 214) in Pendleton;
• Add a southbound lane to the right outside shoulder between the 116th Street entrance ramp and the future 106th Street exit ramp, which is currently under construction;
• Reconfigure the Campus Parkway interchange (Exit 210) into a double crossover diamond design to improve traffic flow;
• Widen the Campus Parkway bridge over I-69;
• Rebuild and lower the State Road 13 (Exit 214) pavement under I-69;
• Rehabilitate the Brooks School Road and Madison County Road 650W bridges over I-69

When I was driving to the July 4th Geist Blast on the Bridge, raindrops began falling on my windshield.  Instead of turning around and heading back home, I began thinking that this is summer in Indiana.  The weather can change at a moment’s notice.  So I continued on my way.  By the time the car was parked, the rainfall was down to sprinkles.  Once I arrived at the bridge, the rain had ended and the sun peaked through the clouds for a quick moment.

With so many July 4th celebrations and fireworks displays cancelled or postponed this weekend  with the prediction of a soaking rain (Saxony’s fireworks have been moved to Labor Day Weekend), Fishers Parks Department Director Tony Elliot told me a decision was made at 10am July 4th to go ahead with the Geist event  It was a gamble, but the weather cooperated in the end.

The fireworks display over Geist Lake is described by many as the best in the Midwest.

As the rain stopped just after 6:30, the crowd began forming and the party was on.

Governor Mike Pence made an appearance and was interviewed by Tom Britt on the Public address system.

The Fishers Wind Symphony presented a “Sounds of America” concert July 3rd…here’s my review

It all started Friday evening with a story posted on the Web sites of TV stations Fox59 and WTTV Channel 4 (both stations share the same newsroom operation).

Unnamed sources were used to report that the FBI has informed a Fishers family they are on a list of potential ISIS targets.  Later in the evening, Fishers Police Department spokesman Tom Weger was quoted by several TV news operations as confirming that the FBI had issued such a warning to a local family.

The FBI did not comment specifically on the Fishers part of the story, only issuing a general statement about how the agency makes notifications once such information is discovered through their investigations.

WTHR sent reporter Matt McCutheon to the July 2nd Fishers Farmers Market, asking locals to comment on the story.   The report gave some people pause, but the crowd at the Farmers Market was about the same as always.

We need to put these sorts of stories in the proper perspective.  When terrorists attacked a restaurant in Dhaka, Bangladesh, it was located in an upper class area of town, near foreign embassies.  Bottom line, such an attack could happen anytime, anywhere.

The Washington Post published a story last year reminding us that we are more likely to be fatally crushed by our own furniture at home than be killed in a terrorist attack.  In other words, it’s not likely.

However, we should all be reasonably aware of what is going on around us.  To repeat the mantra I hear many times from local police, if you see something, say something.  It may be meaningless, but if it looks suspicious, let the professionals know and they can make that determination.

Terrorism can happen anywhere, anytime.  Terrorists only succeed if we allow ourselves to be terrorized for no good reason.