Market Street Ramp To Be Torn Down

INDIANAPOLIS -- The Market Street ramp onto interstates 65 and 70 south is a main artery for many, but the Department of Public Works plans to tear it down.

The ramp, which was built in the '70s to accommodate traffic from Market Square Arena, is being eliminated this summer at a cost of about $20 million.

The ramp has become less used since Market Square Arena went away six years ago, 6News' Ray Cortopassi reported.

Some residents nearby said they didn't want the interchange to go away, but others said they will be glad to see it go.

"I don't think it's a good idea, because this is the main access to my house," one resident said.

DPW said its decision stemmed from economy and aesthetics. City leaders see the ramp as an obstacle to development and access from downtown to the city's near-east side.

Although earlier plans for a condominium tower fell through at the MSA site, there are new plans for commercial and residential development.

"This is going to be a really neat area of downtown and we want to help bring a little more life to this side of town," said Angie Nussmeyer, of DPW.

Brad Lory, whose law office sits right under the ramp, calls it ugly and is happy it will be gone soon.

"The dinosaur of a ramp we got here -- I'm looking forward to it being out of here," Lory said. "A boulevard with streetlights and grass median -- it's going to make Market Street look a lot better."

New ramps to the interstate will be put in along Washington Street. Work on those ramps will start before the Market Street ramp is demolished.