Broad Ripple Avenue and Mass Ave. will reopen to vehicle traffic in two weeks.
The two thoroughfares surrounded by restaurants have been closed since May, when Mayor Joe Hogsett announced a program to close streets and give restaurants more space for outside diners.
The reopenings will come after Labor Day weekend. Crews will begin removing barriers on Broad Ripple Avenue on Tuesday, Sept. 8, and will remove barriers from Mass Ave. later in the week, the Indianapolis Department of Public Works announced Tuesday afternoon.
Restaurants along the two sections of reopening road will need to tell the city if they want to continue using parking spaces by Sept. 4. The city will continue to cover costs for the use of those spaces through Nov. 30.
Crews will leave concrete barriers behind to protect the businesses that choose to continue using parking spaces while the street opens to vehicles.
According to a spreadsheet posted on the city’s website, about 100 businesses were issued permits to participate in the program. It initially included closures on Monument Circle and Illinois Street, but they each ended early due to low use.
Mass Ave. is closed from Delaware Street to College Avenue. Broad Ripple Avenue is closed from College Avenue to the Monon Trail.
The section of Georgia Street between Meridian and Pennsylvania streets will continue to be closed to vehicles.
After closing at the beginning of the pandemic, Indianapolis restaurants were allowed to reopen with dine-in service on May 22 — but only outside, thus the need for additional outdoor seating.
Contact IndyStar digital producer Ethan May at emay@indystar.com or 317-402-1058. Follow him on Twitter: @EthanMayJ.
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