NEW PALESTINE — Motorists who travel along the busiest road in the southern part of the county need to start thinking about finding an alternate route the next several months.
Starting in March, U.S. 52 just east of the intersection at County Road 600W will be shut down. The closure will last well into the summer.
The Indiana Department of Transportation plans to replace a bridge and says the project could take as long as 120 days to complete. That time frame could be longer or shorter, depending on the weather, local officials said.
A county official said the closure is slated for Monday, March 16, although it could come earlier. Trucks and through traffic will be directed to use U.S. 40 as a detour. Local drivers who don’t want to go that far to avoid the area will be on their own.
Jim Robinson, the acting town manager, advises people to start preparing now for the closure of the town’s main road.
“There’s no doubt daily routines are going to be disrupted and drivers need to plan accordingly, but it is what it is,” Robinson said. “We can’t avoid it.”
Complicating traffic flow in the area is ongoing construction at the new Hancock Gateway South complex at County Road 600W and U.S. 52. Also, the town’s main intersection, at County Road 500W and U.S. 52, is scheduled for reconstruction as early as this summer.
County Road 600W will remain open during the bridge construction, so businesses and stores near the intersection, such as Needler’s Fresh Market, will still be accessible via 600W.
Gary Pool, Hancock County Highway Department engineer, said the state will do all it can to complete the work as soon as possible. Pool said INDOT can actually close the road as early as Monday, March 2, but he’s fairly certain the hard closure will be mid-March.
“The project has already officially started,” Pool said.
The work will be done by Milestone Contractors.
Pool noted the inconvenience could be worse: At one point, the project was estimated to take six months.
“The project has been reduced to about 120 days,” Pool said. “We’ve knocked off at least two months.”
As for alternative routes and what the heavy traffic will do to local roads, Pool said the state will reimburse the county for any needed road repairs.
Pool said he wants to get a feel for how the traffic reacts before installing detour signs. But drivers of semi-trailer trucks will be asked to use U.S. 40 or another highway as a detour.
Locals drivers will have several options. Pool expects most area residents to use Country Road 600W and Stinemyer Road to the south of town; or County Road 600W to County Road 300S north of New Palestine.
As for the major intersection reconstruction less than a mile east, at County Road 500W and U.S. 52, the town has been told the area likely will not be closed completely during the project. Town employee Steve Pool, who is communicating with INDOT on the project, said the state will offer alternative lanes through the intersection.
“The last we heard, it would be altered traffic patterns to try and leave lanes open,” Pool said.
Officials from the town plan to attend a meeting in March to learn more about a construction timetable.
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Road Closure in New Palestine
What will be closed: U.S. 52, just east of County Road 600W.
When it will close: Any time after Monday, March 2, although target date is Monday, March 16. Motorists should expect closure any time in that window.
What’s being done: Bridge replacement
How long it will take: About 120 days
Alternate routes for large trucks: U.S. 40, Interstate 465 or State Road 9.
Alternate routes for local traffic: County 600W, Stinemyer Road, County Road 300S.
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