A local conservative Political Action Committee is saying the State Road 37 upgrade now underway in Fishers is running over budget, while city officials claim all intersections will be completed as planned.

Bill Smythe, President of the PAC Fiscal Conservatives of Hamilton County, posted on the group’s blog Monday that a recent meeting of Hamilton County elected officials, county commissioners presented a revised budget requiring $42 million over the original  $124 million spending plan.

The State of Indiana is providing $100 million for the project, with Hamilton County and the City of Fishers paying $12 million each.  The city is handling the construction.

Fishers acknowledged that an update on the construction was recently provided to a joint meeting the the Hamilton County Council and county commissioners, outlining current costs and projected costs for phases of the project yet to be bid.

“All original intersections will be completed as proposed,” says Fishers city spokesperson Ashley Elrod, in an e-mail message to LarryInFishers. “This includes NOT changing the interchange at 141st to a right-in, right-out. Roughly half of the project still remains to be bid, in addition, we are currently enacting cost savings measures that we anticipate will reduce the overall project cost. The city is proceeding as planned and will wait to make any additional cost estimates until the next bid package is released.”

Minutes from a Hamilton County meeting early this year indicated that city and county officials were at least contemplating the possibility of changing the design for 141st Street and State Road 37 from a roundabout to a right-in, right-out design, where motorists could not cross 141st Street at State Road 37, if there is a budget shortfall.  Based on today’s statement from the City of Fishers, the city, which is in charge of construction, plans to construct the roundabout, over 37 at 141st Street, are still in place.

The intersection of 126th Street and State Road 37 is currently under construction.  Three other intersections are scheduled to be rebuilt as part of the project, including 131st and 141st street.  All three will feature a roundabout and underpass for State Road 37 traffic.  Another intersection, 146th Street, will have traffic signals along 146th Street and an underpass for State Road 37 traffic.

For more information on this project, as provided by the City of Fishers, use this link.