A $2 million federal grant will help the town of Bargersville construct a new roundabout at the intersection of State Road 135 and State Road 144.
The Indianapolis Metropolitan Planning Organization, the federally-designated regional planning organization for Central Indiana, presented the town with monies during a check presentation held Tuesday at town hall. The presentation to “celebrate partnerships” that have helped move the project along quicker than it would without IMPO and the Indiana Department of Transportation, said Dax Norton, town manager.
The money received Tuesday is just a portion of the total cost for the estimated $7.2 million project, which would replace an existing stoplight at the intersection of State Road 135, State Road 144 and County Road 144/Old Plank Road. Another $1.5 million will come from the Indiana Department of Transportation, with the town agreeing to pay for the rest of the cost, which will mostly go towards the design. Construction of the project is expected to begin as soon as 2028 and is estimated to be completed by the end of 2029.
With the roundabout, officials hope to improve traffic efficiency and safety in a rapidly developing area in Johnson County. Goals include enhancing traffic flow, reducing delays during peak hours and improving overall safety for both drivers and pedestrians. In addition to safety, the roundabout will incorporate sustainable infrastructure to support Bargersville’s broader goal of creating a welcoming and attractive environment for the community, according to a press release.
The project is also important for continued growth of Bargersville and an intersection that is a gateway for the town, Norton said.
“We’re very excited to be able to move this project forward,” Norton said.
Town council members previously approved a contract with CrossRoad Engineers to begin design work for a little more than $1 million in March. They also asked U.S. Rep. Jefferson Shreve, R-Indiana, to submit a federal funding request for a County Road 144 Safety and Reconstruction Project, which the roundabout will be a piece of. The outcome of that request is not yet known.
Trent Newport, president of Crossroad Engineers, said the roundabout will be a multi-lane roundabout and will make safety improvements for pedestrians and vehicular traffic. A roundabout has eight conflict points compared to 32 in an intersection and can reduce fatalities by 90% and 76% in injuries, he said, citing data from the Federal Highway Administration.
“We’re very proud to be involved in a project that has this much partnership,” Newport said. “Obviously [we’re] going to have a lot of involvement with the MPO and with INDOT on the development of the project, as well as the town of Bargersville and the community.”
The project will “spearhead” and “be the catalyst” for other improvements in the downtown area and the area between Interstates 69 and 65. Connecting the two major interstates is will be important for economic and commerce, Norton said.
The roundabout is also part of the town’s Vision 2040 Plan, which outlines ways town officials with guidance from residents on how to revitalize downtown and the State Road 135 and County Road 144 corridor.
The town has identified County Road 144 as a critical transportation corridor that connects Interstates 69 and 65 south of Indianapolis. As more vehicles travel on the corridor, safety concerns are exacerbated, officials say.
During Thursday’s check presentation, IMPO Executive Director Anna Gremling, said the project is a “prime example” of how federal funds can be used locally. The IMPO receives around $60 million a year from federal gas tax funding, which is used to improve infrastructure projects around Central Indiana, she said.
Out of more than 53 projects submitted to IMPO last fall, the roundabout at State Road 135, State Road 144 and County Road 144/Old Plank Road rose to the top, Gremling said.
“We are very excited to present this check today,” Gremling said. “We know that a stronger Bargersville from the economic development, growth, safety and infrastructure makes for a stronger region and we’re excited to be a partner as part of this project.”
This roundabout is not the only improvement project in the works for the County Road 144 corridor, which has been identified by town officials as a critical transportation corridor because of its connections to the interstates. As more vehicles travel on the corridor, safety concerns about its current state are exacerbated, officials previously said.
With this in mind, town officials are working to fund the County Road 144 Safety and Reconstruction Project. The estimated $40 million project would see the complete redesign and reconstruction of the roadway through the town, along with the construction of new roundabouts at various points along County Road 144.