Olio Road Bridge Expansion to Add Lanes

As temperatures fall, construction continues on expansion of the Olio Road bridge over Geist Reservoir. The Hamilton County Highway Department is hoping to keep ahead of the lightning-paced growth along Olio Road. The $6.8-million bridge expansion is just one part of an overall plan to widen Olio all the way to 96th Street.

After a few delays, construction on the bridge began in August and is expected to be completed by November, according to project manager Matt Knight, of the highway department.

So, yes, that means about a year of construction to go. The good news is, there should be no road closures.

“We will be maintaining two lanes of traffic throughout,” Knight said.

The work you see going on in the water to the east of the bridge is actually the groundwork for the two new northbound lanes. Once that half of the bridge is built, traffic will be shifted to the new portion of the bridge while work is completed on the west half. That will likely be sometime next summer, Knight said.

The finished product should look very similar to the Fall Creek Road bridge, as engineering for both projects was done by United Consulting Engineers & Architects. The four lanes of traffic will be separated by a median, and pedestrian paths will be added to both sides of the bridge. The four existing piers will be replaced with two concrete piers, allowing more clearance for boats under the bridge.

The bridge expansion comes at just the right time. While traffic isn’t bad in the area now, it’s bound to pick up dramatically in the coming months.

At least half a dozen new developments are in various stages of completion along the stretch of Olio Road from 96th to 116th Street. A new McDonald’s just opened on Olio to serve all of the new neighborhoods sprouting up, including Hillsdale, an M/I Homes community of about 30 luxury homesites under construction near Geist Elementary School.

The area’s affluent population and rapid growth rate are enough to make any business owner salivate, which explains why there seems to be no lack of demand for new retail space along this stretch of Olio Road.

Across the street from Geist Elementary, Grubb & Ellis is building a 15,600-square-foot retail center. Just up the road at 116th Street, EcoCore is in talks with numerous restaurants who’d like to open next to a new Chase Bank in Olio Pavilion, a development under construction in front of Kroger.

“We have everything from pizza to barbecue to sandwich shops looking at that,” said Megan O’Toole, a leasing agent for EcoCore.

Kite Realty Group is still filling space at its Geist Pavilion across the street, as well as some outlots at a shopping center near 96th Street. Ace Hardware is slated to open at Geist Pavilion in June, and Kite is hoping to cement a contract with a steak and seafood restaurant as well, said Andrew Hasbrook, a senior leasing representative with Kite.

“With all of the residential growth to the north and south, and the continued growth to the west, that’s why all the anchors have come,” he said. “We’ve seen a lot of activity.”

The expansion plan for the rest of Olio Road south of the bridge has already been designed and the right-of-way acquired, but Knight isn’t sure when the funds will be available to begin. Hopefully, the county will be able to keep one lane ahead of the traffic destined for Olio Road in the near future.

To keep track of progress on the bridge throughout its construction, visit www.geistbridge.com.

Ring in the New Year Close to Home

Getting plans together for New Years Eve can often be last minute as we focus on enjoying Christmas first; however, make it easy this year with this quick local guide for enjoying the start of another wonderful year.
You can make this as simple as inviting neighbors over for a festive snack and beverage. Now, I have a great friend Christy who has even gone nutty for planning a new year’s celebration for the kids complete with changing all of the clocks in the house two hours early so her ball would drop at 10:00 pm. She hung balloons from the ceiling complete with confetti and let it rip right at the faux time of 10 pm. The kids still talk about this experience!
My sister-in-law’s family has always shared the New Year with the kids. Their tradition includes going outside on the stroke of midnight and banging pots and pans. I guess this idea may or may not be popular with the neighbors but what the heck it only comes around once a year.
Another option is to eat out or go out. I would love to fly to Key West for New Year’s Eve, but since I can’t do that I might visit Cheeseburgers in ParadiseParadise will have the band JOBUZ rocking and rolling from 9 until 1. instead. They have such a fun atmosphere with great meals (my favorite is the mini cheeseburgers)! What a great location for either a family night out or an all adult night out. Cheeseburgers in
Bella Vita will also be swinging on New Year’s Eve with Polly B and the Jam in the upstairs bar from 8 until 1a.m.. They will have complimentary champagne and different raffles during the night in the upstairs bar. They will have three seating times for their dining room and will take reservations. The seating times are 5, 7 and 9 pm. The price range for dinners will be from twenty to forty five dollars per dinner.
Practically the whole month could be spent grooving at Bella Vita. Check out their lineup in December featuring Ribs N’ Bones, Aberdeen Project and my absolute favorite band Toy Factory.
If you have not seen Toy Factory yet, make this a priority for Dec. 30th as they are jamming it up in the upstairs bar. This group is a talented band boasting sounds from the old Motown days of R & B, contemporary soul and just about anything your heart desires. They were playing in the VIP Section of Deer Creek the night that Gloria Gaynor and friends were there. We loved being their best fans so we were requesting Midnight Star, Bobby Brown, Janet Jackson, Earth Wind and Fire and Beyonce! Look, that is another whole interview waiting to happen from their stalker fan – me. Nonetheless, Toy Factory has great vocals and it is a must on your agenda this month.
Casler’s located at 116th and Olio will be a hot spot as well with Turnip Seeds featuring the infamous Dean Metcalf. This band is definitely a 70’s / 80’s cover band that might just get you moving! The sporting events of the day will definitely be on at one of Casler’s several TV screens so pop by for a snack or stay all evening. Casler’s has a great menu – (check out their variety of hot pretzels or fried Mac n cheese as an appetizer). The band will start around 9:00.
Wright’s Restaurant and Cocktails will be another terrific option for a good meal and a nice beverage. They will be featuring their normal menu along with a few specials for the holiday.
As always, as you celebrate the season please remember to designate a driver and drink responsibly.
Happy New Year and Best Wishes this season from the atGeist.com staff.

Bella Vita
www.BellaVitaAtTheMarina.com
11699 Fall Creek Road Indianapolis, IN 46256
598-9011
Casler’s
11501 Geist Pavilion Drive Fishers, IN 46037
596-9810
Cheeseburgers in Paradise
9770 Cross Point Boulevard
NW corner of I-69 & 96th Street
585-0247
www.cheeseburgerinparadise.com

Wright’s Restaurant and Cocktails
10158 Brooks School Road Fishers, IN 46037
577-2900