Driving to, from and around Westfield Intermediate and Middle schools will become different for parents and residents of Westlea Drive, Highwood Drive, Creekwood Drive and Newby Court next week.
INDOT expects to begin construction on the north side of the new roundabout at the intersection of Shamrock Boulevard, Poplar Street and Ind. 32 on Aug. 26. In order to perform this work, INDOT crews expect to close access to/from Westfield Middle School, 345 W. Hoover St., and Westfield Intermediate School, 326 W. Main St., at Ind. 32/Shamrock Boulevard.
Westfield Washington Schools Business Director Nick Verhoff said the construction is expected to take 60 days. Shamrock Drive is the main roadway into the district’s administration building and the middle and intermediate schools.
“We’ll have to bring buses all from the north and parents,” Verhoff said, adding that construction is likely to be finished by Oct. 31. “Parents at the intermediate school will have to find new routes.”
Verhoff said it has not been determined if a new temporary road will be created to assist with school traffic.
“We’ll be working around construction all year. What we are concerned about it the complete access for emergency vehicles,” he said.
The school district and city are working to increase patrols and safety but INDOT is still calling the shots,” Verhoff said.
Access will be maintained to the schools via a detour route through Westlea Drive and Creekwood Drive to Shamrock Boulevard. Buses will continue to use U.S. 31/181st Street, but the detour route will provide access for other vehicular traffic wishing to access the schools. Verhoff said the school’s drop-off areas will remain the same throughout construction.
Once the closure at Ind. 32/Shamrock Boulevard is complete, INDOT crews will restore the pavement along the designated detour route through the neighborhood.
