New construction project gets underway on State Road 32

LEBANON, Ind. — A new construction project is getting underway in Boone County. The multi-phase project beginning this week is expected to last through next summer spanning 10.3 miles from I-65 in Lebanon to Shannondale.

“If you go through that area, you can really tell this pavement has really lived its life cycle and any time that happens you need to do the road work maintenance to keep up with that, so right now it just seems all the numbers we’re crunching and things were adding up and it was really time to do this,” said Blake Dollier, the PR director with INDOT’s West Central District.

Phase one of the project focuses on resurfacing State Road 32 from now until October specifically from Enterprise Boulevard to County Road 650 West. Crews will also be working on shoulder strengthening. Lebanon residents agree that this is something State Road 32 needs.

“I actually work along this road, and I think it would be a really good idea to make the road safer and cover up the potholes and make the shoulder a little larger just in case of any emergencies,” said Taylor Moss, who lives in Lebanon. “I think it’s a good idea that we are making Lebanon safer.”

Pavement restoration work will then continue further west toward Shannondale. This includes work happening right outside Western Boone Jr./Sr. High School. INDOT plans for a majority of the work to happen when the roads are less busy.

“We are going to do that work at night time, so we can stay out of the way of everyone and keep our workers safe and keep the parents and students safe as we are dropping them off at school,” Dollier said. “It’s going to be a [six] phase project and we are going to do all of this work to improve the roadway, especially in this area of a school zone where things may be more heavy traffic during certain times of the year.”

Residents said they are grateful to see a long-term solution for road improvements here rather than quick, temporary fixes.

“Trying to keep infrastructure up, that’s definitely good,” said Tony Linton, who has called Lebanon home for nearly 50 years. “Filling in potholes and things like that. We live in Indiana, it eventually is a waste of time, so I would rather see them take out that section and repave it or do something a little bit different.”

And make this part of central Indiana safer for everyday commuters and people just passing through.

“If we make our roads safer, we are caring about our drivers on our road,” Moss said. “I think it will be really good for all people, all generations, new drivers, old drivers, just to have a safer trip [commute].”

Finally, INDOT officials want to remind drivers to be extra cautious behind the wheel as this project officially gets underway.

“Just remember that it is always important, no matter where you see a work zone that you slow down because we have a lot of moms, a lot of dads, brothers, and sisters out here in work zones so we want to make sure we keep them safe and drivers and passengers safe as well,” Dollier said.

The first phase of this project is supposed to wrap up in October with the full project hopefully being complete in summer 2025. For more information on other upcoming INDOT projects, click here.

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