CARMEL, Ind. -- Carmel's $30 million project to expand the Monon Greenway is officially underway.
"We don't have mountains, we don't have oceans here in central Indiana, so we have to focus on the build environment, " said Carmel Mayor Jim Brainard.
The project will not only widen and expand the Monon Greenway, but will also include public areas with green spaces, gathering spaces, and plaza spaces; create pedestrian and bicycle lanes; and add in brick lanes for vehicular traffic.
"It's about place making and making a place where people want to spend their lives here in Carmel, Indiana,” said Mayor Brainard.
Brainard said the brick roads will look nice and save money for Carmel in the long run.
"They are going to be brick roads that will last. More expensive up front, but over time it's going to be great value for the community because they don't have to be repaved, easy to get to underground utilities and you can take them up and put them back down,” said Brainard.
Adam Aasen is co-owner of Donatello’s Italian Restaurant in Carmel. Aasen said he looks at the project as an investment.
"It’s going to bring new businesses, it's going to make people come out and spend money, it's going to make people want to buy homes here,” Aasen said.
To Aasen, the Monon is a trip down the days of the past, sparking memories with those that mean the most to him.
"It was one of my first dates with my now-wife, was just taking a walk along the Monon Trail,” said Aasen.
The Monon Trail also serves as a portal, journeying toward the days to come.
"I could imagine that our customers could park at our restaurant, have dinner, and then walk to a show at the Palladium along this nice widened path," said Aasen.
The hope is for the entire project to be complete by the end of 2019.
“It’s going to be a beautiful space,” said Brainard.
Brainard said he does want to remind people to use extra caution when making their way around the construction zone, while road crews are out working.
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