Sellersburg officials say recurring Highway 60 work will be disruptive; residents say they lacked warning

Town staff told the Sellersburg Town Council that a series of Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) projects — including culvert replacement work on State Road 60 and the installation of a new traffic signal at Saint Joe East — will require recurring closures and detours that could run for weeks in places.

The work will include a temporary closure of a northbound exit near the Waters of Milan development for about a week in mid-to-late September and culvert replacements under State Road 60. Town staff said culvert work of this type typically runs 30 to 60 days, weather permitting.

The projects matter for traffic and school access: council members noted the Cedar Creek High School homecoming parade and other local travel patterns that could be affected. Several residents and council members said there was little or no advance notice for a recent closure, which left drivers and some property owners without expected access. One resident said there had been “no pre warning signage” and described an “uproar” after the closure occurred.

Council members and staff discussed communication channels. Staff said INDOT maintains social media and a notification signup and asked residents living on state highways to sign up for INDOT alerts; residents and one council member urged the town to do more direct outreach when state work affects local access. The council also noted that some projects occur outside town limits, which can limit the town’s direct notification authority.

Town staff described the larger context: multiple state-funded projects are scheduled in and around Sellersburg — including potential roundabouts and other utility relocations tied to the 31 project — and will create intermittent traffic impacts over the coming months. Staff said substantial state investment is coming into the area but urged patience while work is completed.

There was no formal action or vote on the INDOT projects during the meeting; discussion centered on notification and coordination with INDOT and on tracking the schedule for specific closures and utility relocations.