Major Westbound Closure on Washington Street for Blue Line Construction

INDIANAPOLIS — Beginning this Thursday, drivers on Indianapolis’ Westside will face a significant detour as westbound lanes of Washington Street close between North White River Parkway and Belmont Avenue for the next six months. The closure is part of a key construction phase for IndyGo’s Blue Line project, focused on upgrading critical sewer trunk lines beneath the roadway.

While eastbound lanes will remain open, westbound motorists will be redirected to North White River Parkway, Michigan Street, and Holt Road. The detour is expected to substantially alter traffic patterns in an area already grappling with multiple infrastructure projects.

Construction for the Blue Line has been ongoing, but this phase represents one of the most disruptive yet. Businesses and residents are bracing for the impact.

For Frank Meza, owner of Halcon Motors, the closure comes as yet another blow. His business has already been dealing with reduced customer access due to the long-running West Washington Street bridge closure.

“I almost cried,” said Meza. “This is really bad not just for me, but for everybody trying to get around.”

Mary Ramsey, who has lived on the Westside her entire life, said she’s considering avoiding the area altogether.

“It’s already hard enough to get in and out of our side streets with just regular traffic,” she said. “We’ve had the bridge down at Rockville or Lynhurst and Washington closed for two years.”

The Blue Line is designed to bring long-term transit benefits, including faster and more reliable bus service from the airport to Cumberland, but the current disruptions are testing the patience of commuters and business owners alike.

IndyGo officials acknowledge the inconvenience but emphasize that the improvements will be worth it. To help the community adapt, they have introduced several outreach tools, including a community toolkit, a dedicated construction liaison, and weekly virtual office hours where residents can ask questions and get updates.

Local leaders are also urging residents to continue supporting neighborhood businesses throughout the construction period. Meza and other owners say customer loyalty will be key to weathering the next half-year of reduced accessibility.

The Blue Line project — one of IndyGo’s most ambitious transit expansions — is expected to deliver not just improved bus infrastructure but also upgraded utilities, enhanced sidewalks, and better stormwater management. Still, for now, the Westside will have to navigate a challenging road ahead, both literally and figuratively.

Originally reported by Lauren Schwentker in WRTV.