Long’s Bakery, the Westside institution where the weekend line wraps around the block, is now leading a very different kind of queue. The shop has launched a public petition urging Indianapolis officials to keep the 16th Street Bridge open in some form during a planned multi-million-dollar rehab, warning that a long shutdown could cut off customers, workers and even ambulances from Haughville and the Near West Side. City leaders, for their part, insist the aging span needs serious work if it is going to stay safe for decades.
As reported by Fox59, Long’s is asking Hoosiers to sign a Change.org petition that describes the bridge as the way people reach jobs, schools and emergency care. In social media posts, the bakery has warned that the proposed two-year construction window could make it far tougher for customers to reach its doors and could bring a “major impact on jobs and small businesses” across the corridor.
Why the city says the work is necessary
The Department of Public Works says the rehabilitation is designed to extend the life of the historic arch bridge and to fix deteriorating concrete in the arches, corbels and deck, according to a city statement. The work carries an estimated price tag of roughly $17.5 million and, during its most disruptive phase, could require a full closure of the bridge for about two years, according to IBJ.
Business owners say the plan could hit livelihoods
Long’s owners argue that losing vehicle access is not just a minor headache that can be detoured away. “This isn’t just about a bridge, it’s about protecting local jobs, families, and the heart of our community,” the bakery said in a social post cited by Fox59, warning that longer routes would complicate trips for regulars and for emergency vehicles trying to reach the neighborhood.
How the city plans to limit disruption
Department of Public Works Director Brandon Herget told reporters that early phases of construction will focus on work underneath the bridge to patch substructure elements so traffic is not immediately shut down. He said the full closure would be scheduled to limit wider regional traffic pain. The department has pledged to keep pedestrian access open during the project and says the goal is to restore, not replace, the bridge’s historic details, IBJ reports.
What comes next for the petition and the project
As city engineers refine construction phases and detour routes, Long’s and neighborhood organizers are busy gathering signatures and hoping public pressure convinces officials to maintain some level of vehicle access while the heaviest work is underway. Updated schedules, detour maps and construction alerts are expected to be posted by the Department of Public Works as the project moves into active stages…