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Indianapolis and Carmel feud over roundabout placement

Posted at 2:08 AM, Mar 14, 2017
and last updated 2017-03-14 05:44:46-04

INDIANAPOLIS -- An Indianapolis-City County Council member is trying to stop Carmel from building several roundabouts along the border between the two cities.

Officials from both cities met last year to discuss Carmel’s plans to build roundabouts at six different intersections along the 96th Street corridor. Carmel is funding the construction work. 

Christine Scales (D-3) approved two of those roundabouts but said she plans to fight the city of Carmel over the proposed construction of four others.

Scales said she agreed to the roundabouts at 96th Street and Keystone and 96th Street and Priority Way, but she believes the other four would negatively impact several businesses along that stretch of road.

“Scotty’s Brewhouse, they were told they would lose 16 spaces,” said Scales. “Those are needed parking spaces and are very valuable to their business.”

Carmel’s Director of Engineering Jeremy Kashman said Carmel is working to gather feedback from property owners along the corridor, but they are still planning to build all six roundabouts, regardless of whether they get Indianapolis’ approval.

“We reached out as a courtesy to meet with them and discuss the project,” said Kashman. “We’re not asking Indianapolis to pay for it. We’re investing $43 million of Carmel’s money in the corridor.”

Kashman believes the roundabouts are necessary and would help the flow of traffic in the area.

“What we’re doing is we’re improving the intersections,” said Kashman.

Scales disagrees and said if the projects continue, it’s likely the two cities could end up in a legal battle.

“I believe at this point in time it is incumbent upon Indianapolis to send a letter with some legal language in it saying cease and desist,” said Scales.

No official dates have been released but the projects are set to begin sometime this year.