Broad Ripple Avenue

Our Broad Ripple Avenue Improvement Project for Indianapolis DPW won a 2025 Merit Award from ACEC Indiana and the 2024 Project of the Year Award from ASCE Indiana!

Lochmueller Group designed approximately 0.7 miles of Broad Ripple Avenue from College Avenue to Winthrop Avenue, a high-traffic area in the Commercial District. The roadway is built-up and urban in nature, with high patronage of the adjacent businesses by vehicular and pedestrian traffic.

Broad Ripple Village, one of Indianapolis' seven cultural districts, is known for its nightlife, dining, and retail with around 17,000 residents. The project initially aimed at addressing stormwater issues to prevent flooding. Additionally, the City sought to create a safer, more pedestrian and multi-modal friendly environment through the study corridor with greater trail access to nearby facilities while maintaining acceptable traffic operating conditions.

To enhance pedestrian accessibility, the south-side parking lane was removed to make way for a wider multi-use path connecting College Avenue to the Monon Trail. Lochmueller's teams collaborated to design solutions for stormwater collection and multi-modal mobility. They altered the road profile to direct water away from buildings and used permeable articulated blocks by PaveDrain for sidewalk drainage. A 12-foot-wide multi-modal connection between the Monon Trail and Broad Ripple Park was also funded.

During construction, pedestrian access was maintained with flexible solutions like open sidewalks during storm sewer installation, pavement accessibility during sidewalk reconstruction, business-focused signage, and sidewalk bridges. The project required a 48-inch storm sewer trunkline connected to a 144-inch interceptor on Winthrop Avenue, with large water quality units to improve stormwater outflow into the White River. An in-line check valve was installed to prevent backflow, and stormwater was rerouted along Westfield Boulevard during heavy rain events.

The tight utility corridor called for cooperation between many entities. The large diameter stormwater pipe was thread between existing utilities where possible. Major relocations were required for gas and water while existing signals were reused. The overhead AES electric corridor was kept in place along the south side of Broad Ripple Avenue within the widened sidewalk, saving the project years of time and millions of dollars. PaveDrain permeable pavers were installed within sidewalk areas and in line with the overhead electric poles to create a visual divide in the widened sidewalk along the corridor.

Extensive coordination with local stakeholders, including the BRVA, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police, ParkIndy, City Councilmen, and business owners, was crucial to keep everyone informed about traffic changes, and the project schedule. Overall, the project positively impacted the community by enhancing regional connectivity, increasing multi-modal access, improving safety, improving drainage capacity and water quality, and maintaining a community identity!