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Westfield outlines multi‑phase plan to widen 190 First Street, expects construction to start April 2026
Summary
City staff gave a detailed update on Phase 1 and 2 of the 190 First Street widening project, including right‑of‑way acquisitions, utility relocations, coordination with Grand Park and estimated costs and timelines.
City of Westfield staff told the council the multi‑phase widening of 190 First Street will add a four‑lane section with a median, new roundabouts and a pedestrian bridge across the Monon Trail, with major construction for Phase 1 expected to begin in April 2026.
"We expect road construction to begin April first of 'twenty 6," Director Jonathan Veil said during a presentation to the council. He said the city is targeting an August 20 bid opening for the Phase 1 construction contract and that construction will run about one full season, with completion expected in November 2026.
The update outlined two segments. Phase 1 stretches from Tomlinson Road to Grand Park Boulevard and includes a roundabout at Grand Park Boulevard plus a pedestrian bridge for the Monon Trail. Phase 2 continues west of Grand Park Boulevard to Spring Mill Road and would extend the four‑lane, median section and add another roundabout near Horton Road.
The presentation listed schedule steps and impacts: the design and right‑of‑way engineering are being finalized now; the city expects right‑of‑way acquisition to continue into the fall of 2025; utility relocation is scheduled for late fall 2025 into spring 2026; and the city will “let” the construction contract in 2025 for a spring 2026 start.
"Total road and bridge construction costs are estimated at about $13,000,000," Veil said. He added the project team has worked closely with Grand Park to minimize impacts and keep access to the park’s north side open for most of the work, while noting some disruptions are unavoidable.
Council members pressed for background on the design choices that shaped Phase 2. Veil said earlier right‑of‑way and utility placements—installed to serve future connections and drainage for West Fork Whiskey’s site—helped shape earlier concepts, but the city later revised plans to preserve contiguous developable acreage north of Grand Park.
"If you can vacate 190 First Street west of Horton, you really have an extension of Grand Park going to the north," Veil said, describing the decision to route Spring Mill to the west to keep roughly 30+ acres contiguous for future development. He characterized the Phase 2 drawings shown as conceptual and said the city will engage stakeholders as design proceeds.
Council members and the mayor noted broad construction activity across the county and the state this year, asking residents for patience and reminding drivers to slow in work zones. One councilmember framed the projects as part of a larger, multi‑year infrastructure program and said delaying work would raise costs and worsen traffic bottlenecks.
The presentation included estimated Phase 2 costs of about $14,000,000 and described the 2027 construction date as "aggressive" but achievable in an ideal schedule. No formal vote or ordinance was associated with the update; staff presented it as an informational briefing and answered council questions.
