New Roundabout Coming To Speedway

Construction of a roundabout at an intersection near the Indianapolis Motor Speedway is about to begin. Officials broke ground on the project, Monday.

The project is designed to improve safety, and improve the economy for one of Speedway’s key business districts.

More accidents happen at the intersection of Main and 16th streets and Crawfordsville Road than anywhere else in Speedway – about 63 percent. Scott Harris with the Speedway Redevelopment Commission says converting it to a roundabout will make it safer, and make accidents that do occur less violent.

"It allows for a variety of different roads to come in and intersect at the same time," he said.  "If you come in a roundabout, you are coming in at an angle and so, if an accident occurs it's not typically a head-on-head or a T-bone, it's a glancing. So, it minimizes the number of injuries and minimizes the amount of property damage."

Business owners are getting behind the project too. 

Mindi Epstein lives 10 minutes from Main Street, but didn’t even know it existed until recently.  Last year, she opened Main Street Yoga on the strip and thinks the roundabout will help highlight the area.

"The current intersection does not showcase Main Street.  It's too easy to pass by as I've done myself," said Epstein.  "Hopefully with the roundabout it will call more attention to the street and the businesses that are opening on the street and bringing it to life."

The $15 million project is funded mostly through federal and state money.

IMS President Doug Boles thinks the roundabout will better connect what’s happening at the track with Main Street.

"I wouldn't be surprised if the vast majority of people who are driving by us just north of us here, have no idea of all the excitement that is going on 100 feet to the south," said Boles.   "By bringing that roundabout together, not only will we make this intersection safer for folks, I think we will now be able to connect a great, vibrant Main Street with one of the busiest thoroughfares here in Indianapolis."

Construction begins this week. It’s expected to be completed in November.