Construction on Capitol Ave., Alabama St. starts this week

Construction on two blocks of the Indianapolis Cultural Trail: A Legacy of Gene & Marilyn Glick has begun. The contractor, Linkel Company , has started construction on the east side of Alabama St. from Market St. to Washington St.  Next week, the crew will move to Captiol Ave. to begin work on the west side of Capitol Ave. from Washington St. to Maryland St.  Capitol Ave. from Maryland St. to South St. is being constructed as part of the Indiana Convention Center project. 

The Glick Peace Walk luminary for Abraham Lincoln will be built during this construction and located on the southwest corner of Capitol Ave. and Washington St.

It is expected that the hardscape construction (pavers, concrete) will be completed by the end of the year. Landscaping will be installed in spring 2011.

Northeast Corridor construction nearing completion

Most of the hardscape and landscaping has been installed on the northeast end of Mass Ave, north of College Ave. This area will be reopened to two-way traffic as soon as IPL installs the meter boxes needed to power the trail lights, traffic signals at 10th St. and Bellefontaine St., and Jamie Pawlus' "Care, Don't Care" public art installation.

Walnut St. between New Jersey St. and East St. reopened to two-way traffic. (Walnut St. remains one way eastbound from East St. to Park Ave.)

The canopy lighting in the alley beautifully illuminates this unique space on the trail. Sean Derry's "Chatham Passage," a public art project located in the alley adjacent to the Metro Nite Club, is nearly complete. The artist-designed lattice grate has been installed over his vault; the architectural lighting is in, and the scent machine will be installed soon. Enjoy the artist’s nod to the past and present uses of this historic space.

For the next month, the contractor will continue to focus on the Chatham Arch intersection at Mass Ave, Park Ave., and Walnut St. In the last month, it has completed the corners in front of the Metro bar (see photo) and Dean Johnson Gallery. It is currently working on the corner in front of Yats and Mass Appeal Nail Salon. Look for new signage telling the history of the historic Chatham Arch neighborhood that will be installed later this fall.

The southeast corner of St. Clair St. and College Ave. has been torn out and will be completed by early September. The benches and bike racks all along the route will be installed this month.

The Northeast Corridor (from North and Alabama streets to 10th St. and the Monon Trail) is expected to be completed by October 31. 

New video explains Fred Wilson's "E Pluribus Unum"

Fred Wilson, a nationally renowned artist based in New York City, has been commssioned to create one of the seven permanent public art installations on the Cultural Trail. Entitled "E Pluribus Unum," it will be located on the northeast corner of Delaware and Washington streets in front of the City County Building. 

Watch this new eight minute video by WFYI Productions explaining more about the deeper meaning and purpose behind the project and the community dialogue it is creating.

Learn more on our Web site or contact Mindy Taylor Ross, Indianapolis Cultural Trail curator and public art coordinator: artstrategies@me.com.

Construction Plan for 2011

Our team is working very hard to prepare for building the three remaining corridors in 2011. The following corridors will go to bid in December or in the first quarter of 2011 through the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT):

Southeast Corridor (from Washington St. and Pennsylvania St. to the fountain in Fountain Square on the south/west side of Virginia Ave.)
Central Corridor (from Alabama St. to West St. on the north side of Washington St.)
West Corridor (from Indiana Ave to White River State Park on the east side of Blackford St.)

Construction on these areas will begin in early 2011 and continue through the end of the year. Any construction or landscaping installation remaining in early 2012 will begin after the Super Bowl in February and completed by the end of 2012. 

Our monthly brown bag meetings have been cancelled to accommodate more frequent public meetings that are being held on a regular basis with stakeholders within each area.  If you would like more information about the construction schedule or upcoming construction update meetings, visit our Web site or contact Gail Payne, Cultural Trail public outreach manager: 317.985.5523 or Gail@IndyCulturalTrail.org.