Neighbors worry the new traffic pattern at Washington Street and Ritter Avenue causes safety concerns as drivers ignore the detours and cut through parking lots.
INDIANAPOLIS — Anna Acklin enjoys walking her dog, Ruby, on Washington Street in Irvington.
With the closure of the intersection at Washington Street and Ritter Avenue for construction of IndyGo’s Blue Line and the new traffic detour, she tries her best to stay careful.
«I think it could be more dangerous for the kids that have to walk through,» Acklin said.
The closed intersection sits directly in front of George W. Julian School. The school posted on Facebook, reminding people to slow down as traffic is redirected.
«A lot of times, I’ll see her on the crosswalks and she’s stopping cars, and I hope people pay attention to that, because we do have a lot of kids who walk to and from school. And they’re not always paying attention. We as the adults have to pay attention,» Irvington resident Rosa Angelone said.
In 2021, 7-year-old Hannah Crutchfield, a student at George W Julian School, was killed and her mother and a crossing guard were injured as she crossed the street at the same intersection.
Another concern is that cars drive through parking lots to go around the closed intersection instead of taking the proper detours on Emerson Avenue, Pleasant Run Parkway and Arlington Avenue.
«There’s a lot of foot traffic in Irvington, a lot of restaurants, a lot of businesses, and we’re going to have to figure out how to deal with the cars coming through, people going the wrong way on the one-way streets, cutting through parking lots, so I don’t know who’s in charge, but we’re gonna have to figure out how to deal with it,» Angelone said.
Local business owner Sierra Hipsher sees it, too.
«The school is a is a block away from my shop. The construction is right in front of the school, so I know that you’re frustrated when you’re driving. I get it, but they are children, they are walking…they need to have that safe space for them to be able to get home to and from school,» Hipsher said.
Her business is also on a one-way street. She sees people cut through parking lots and then go down a one-way street the wrong direction.
«I know that it’s maybe confusing, especially with the construction, but be aware there are signs everywhere. There are signs here, there’s signs there,» Hipsher said. «People just need to slow down, give yourself a little extra time. People live here, people work here, people walk here, so just be safe.»
IndyGo plans for the intersection to stay closed for about a month.
«Super happy the Blue Line is coming through. I think it’s gonna make the city better and safer, so I appreciate that, but the construction is a headache,» Angelone said.
13News reached out to IPS, but they did not comment. IndyGo referred us to Citizens Energy Group, which is doing the foundational construction for the Blue Line.
Citizens Energy Group sent 13News the following statement in response to people’s concerns with the traffic:
«We’ve been coordinating with the principal of the school on this issue. There are staggered barricades in place allowing continued access to various properties on Washington Street ahead of the full closure; but this staggered pattern means that drivers may disregard the detour signage and then must navigate along smaller residential routes or in parking lots. Our crews will place additional signage to confirm for through-traffic that Washington Street is indeed closed, but we encourage motorists to heed the warnings already in place and detour via the posted route to avoid delays or unintended routing on residential streets.»
