Hazel Dell bridge demolition set as Carmel marks one month since historic flooding

By JACQUELINE WHITE
WISH-TV | wishtv.com

Next week, Hamilton County will begin demolishing the damaged Hazel Dell bridge as Carmel continues to recover from historic August flooding along the White River.

Flooding along the White River wiped out Hazel Dell Parkway, threatening a city water main. Hamilton County officials previously said construction of the new bridge was expected to finish by the end of 2027.

The demolition will happen as three city wells remain disconnected a month after the flooding.

Finkam

Republican Mayor Sue Finkam wrote in a Monday statement that a 30-inch pipe that carries untreated water was still out of service. While officials develop permanent solutions, crews are building a temporary connection to restore the system.

Finkam wrote that the city is meeting current water demand and has stored water available.

Infrastructure repairs continue across the city. Workers will reconnect a 12-inch water main during the upcoming bridge and road reconstruction projects. Additionally, the city is installing a new six-inch line along 96th Street to serve the wastewater plant.

The city is also deciding how to reroute Blue Woods Creek, which flows into the White River but reversed its course during the mid-August river crest. Once officials determine the new path, they plan to lower and reinforce two pressurized sewer lines to help prevent erosion from future storms. Finkam wrote that early testing on those sewer lines shows they are in good shape.

To help ease traffic during the years-long reconstruction process, the city has already opened a new roundabout at 106th Street and Hazel Dell Parkway. Hazel Landing Park remains closed.

“Our goal isn’t to put things back together exactly as they were, but to rebuild them to be more resilient,” Finkam wrote.

This story was originally published by WISH-TV at wishtv.com/news/carmel-flood-recovery-update.