Westfield reports progress on State Road 32 project; east-west lane opening still planned for October

City of Westfield staff updated the preservation commission on the State Road 32 reconstruction, reporting that a large box culvert has been installed east of the Union Square parking garage and that Union Street north-south is open again. Staff said the project remains on track to reopen State Road 32 east-west between Union and Poplar in October, but that Duke Energy's overhead-to-underground relocation work is slightly behind schedule because of underground cable supply issues.

Staff described the traffic plan after opening as providing one lane in each direction on the north side while crews complete widening on the south side; after that phase, traffic would be flipped to the newly constructed south side while contractors finish the north side. Staff cautioned that landscaping and streetscaping work will continue and the corridor will remain a construction zone through 2026 as contractors complete finishing work.

The city said it expects some short-term closures for landscaping or median work but does not anticipate long-term lane closures once traffic is reopened. Staff also said many trucks have followed the State Route 38 detour and noted that construction in neighboring Hamilton County communities has compounded travel impacts.

Staff answered questions about timing for ancillary projects. The proposed extension (referred to in the meeting as New Jersey Street on the south side) will be constructed after 32 is fully open to traffic, as building it earlier would cause access issues for some residences. A separate Cherry Street bridge/road reconstruction south of the project is in design and may be coordinated once 32 is complete.