By CAMILA FERNANDEZ & BRADY GIBSON
WISH-TV | wishtv.com
A new plan will expand State Road 32 to four lanes through much of downtown Westfield.
The plan publicly revealed this week would add lanes on State Road 32 from just east of U.S. 31 to just beyond Timberbrook Drive.
The project calls for widening other sections of State Road 32 and adding a roundabout at East Street.
City leaders cite worsening traffic congestion in downtown Westfield as the reason for the project, which will require moving or demolishing 13 buildings.
Rendering courtesy American Structurepoint, Inc.
The current plan calls for keeping at least one lane of traffic open at all times, but project leaders admit they are considering a full shutdown of State Road 32 from Poplar Street to Union Street at some point during construction.
City leaders are accepting public comment on the plan through Feb. 10.
Some business owners say although they’re excited about the changes they’re concerned about its impact on their businesses.
“I know there’s going to be a lot of construction right around the corner for us for quite some time,” said Angela Gapinski, the owner of Root 31 plant nursery. “We’re very hopeful that our customers will still be here for us as we’ll still be here for them, and I think we can make it through this and then in the long run I think the payoff will be how many more people will be able utilize our downtown as opposed to just us locals.”
“Parking, infrastructure, and, hopefully, the city can work through those details because they are extremely important,” said Keith Dusko, the owner of Chiba, a Japanese restaurant. “My business is about increasing consideration and not the opposite, so if people are concerned about parking and infrastructure, they might go somewhere else. It’s good and bad overall.”
Work is set to begin in the spring 2023.
Rendering courtesy American Structurepoint, Inc.