Businesses cite cash losses due to stalled State Road 37 project in Fishers – Indianapolis News | Weather Indiana | Indiana traffic

FISHERS, Ind. (WISH) – Fishers City Council restricted the intersection of 141st Street and State Road 37 for the first time in 2022.

The city planned to build an elevated roundabout, but budgetary reasons held up this proposal. Instead, the city announced in November 2022 that the intersection would be made right-in, right-out, with only a “right turn” both on and off the shared highway of State Road 37.

Businesses near the intersection say they are losing money and customers.

Mason Odle, owner of Just Vapor, said: “Business was good until January 16, 2023, until they closed the intersection.”

Vape sales are down 30%. His store was empty Wednesday afternoon. The parking lot was also empty. He says customers complain almost daily about having to take a detour through the restricted intersection to get to the store, turning a two-minute drive from State Road 37 into a 10- to 15-minute drive.

Hieu Ngo, owner of LG Nails, says he used to have 10 to 15 customers a day. “Now it’s going slowly, about four customers a day.”

Ngo says it is a great loss. “I lose about $10,000-15,000 a year.”

Both entrepreneurs were hopeful that construction would start again soon. The vape shop owner said, “I appreciate the progress, and sometimes it’s painful, but when you close an intersection for a year and don’t do anything with that intersection, it’s frustrating.

Fisher’s city council did not respond to a request for comment on Wednesday.

In July 2022, News 8 reported that rising construction costs forced an indefinite delay on the 141st Street roundabout. Engineers initially estimated the cost of the 141st Street roundabout at $26.6 million, but the three bids the Fishers administration received were $49.4 million, $39.9 million and $32.9 million. Pausing the project was the best possible use of taxpayer money, city leaders decided.

In November 2022, city officials told News 8 they were hopeful new bids could be solicited in the fall of 2023 at lower estimates. Officials also planned an advertising campaign to raise awareness and promote access to businesses on 141st Street.