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Franklin board approves HWC contract to develop an I‑65 interstate access document
Summary
The Franklin City Board of Public Works and Safety approved a professional services agreement with HWC Engineering to prepare an interstate access document for a proposed I‑65 interchange; the county signaled financial partnership and INDOT/FHWA review will drive timing and scope.
The Franklin City Board of Public Works and Safety on April 20 approved a professional services agreement with HWC Engineering to prepare the interstate access document needed to pursue a potential new access point on I‑65 in Franklin.
Chris Ham of HWC Engineering told the board the firm completed an economic development analysis that "clearly shows tremendous economic impact opportunity" from an additional I‑65 access and described recent meetings with the Indiana Department of Transportation and the Metropolitan Planning Organization that were more receptive than past discussions. Ham said the project will require survey work, red‑flag and environmental analyses, and extensive traffic modeling for no‑build and multiple build scenarios, and that the consultant expects up to 18 months of iteration with INDOT and the Federal Highway Administration to produce a submittable document.
"With INDOT as your partner, the MPO very strongly, I think, supported this conversation in that room as well," Ham said, adding the city and county would need to provide detailed modeling and alternatives for federal review. Kevin Walls, Johnson County commissioner, told the board the county "plan[s] on partnering with you guys on this project also financially" and said a memorandum of understanding is in progress.
Board members asked how broad the traffic modeling area would be; Ham said it will span from US‑31 across the interstate to the next county road and up to the Whiteland interchange to capture intersections, turning movements and truck versus car impacts. Ham also noted prior HWC work in Franklin, including a redevelopment plan and interchange design, as relevant experience.
A motion to approve the professional services agreement was made, seconded and approved by voice vote. The mayor recorded contract/funding figures in the meeting record, but the transcript contains inconsistent dollar amounts for that line; the city clerk's office should be consulted for the official contract value and funding breakdown (the board discussed using redevelopment commission funds and county support). The board did not set a construction timeline; Ham said construction could occur years later and depends on FHWA and INDOT determinations.
The board is expected to coordinate an interlocal funding agreement with the county and to return to the RDC for the city share prior to contract execution.
