Road repair season gets underway in Indianapolis

More money is set aside for road repairs in Indianapolis this spring. Many Indianapolis roadways will be rehabbed as crews start strip-patching this month.

The city has set aside $10 million for this year’s effort.  Department of Public Works Director Brandon Herget said strip patching will be the main focus.

“In years past we have budgeted $4 million for that program and this year we now have $10 million budgeted, which will be able to extend the amount of strip patching we’ll be able to do around the county,” Herget said.

Strip patching removes a layer of asphalt on a section of roadway and puts down a new layer.
DPW crews and contractors are now able to use a hot asphalt mix for patching. Central Indiana asphalt plants are open earlier than usual.

Milder temperatures have aided the effort and crews will be able to tackle potholes as well as strip-patching earlier this year.

Herget said now is the time when streets show their wear.

“We start to see that freeze, thaw cycle where precipitation gets into cracks in our roadways and causes failure in those roadways,” Herget said.

There have been 5,000 fewer requests for pothole repairs at the Mayor’s Action Center this year.

DPW has already filled 66,000 holes with a cold mix since the beginning of the year.

Drivers are reminded to give crews space while they are working in the middle of the road.
DPW's infrastructure planning for 2023 includes an investment of nearly $290 million in transportation infrastructure.

Contact WFYI city government and policy reporter Jill Sheridan at jsheridan@wfyi.org. Follow on Twitter: @JillASheridan.