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Lebanon board hears infrastructure updates; US 52 closure set for July 20
Summary
City engineers and department heads updated the Board of Public Works and Safety on station renovations, staffing, major road work and a planned closure of US 52 starting July 20 for interchange tie‑in work that is expected to last through October.
City staff gave the Board of Public Works and Safety a run‑through of ongoing projects and near‑term impacts at the board meeting.
Kevin, an engineering department representative, told the board the city’s US 52 corridor will close beginning Monday the 20th for a tie‑in to a new interchange. He said the closure, between 300 North and 400 North, would block through traffic for the duration of construction and is expected to last through the end of October; local traffic in the corridor will have limited access. “The closure starts on Monday, the 20th and lasts through the end of October when it will fully open along with the new interchange,” Kevin said.
Kevin also reported the Department of Natural Resources has approved final plans for the regional detention facility, with remaining county approvals for erosion control and legal‑drain matters pending before the plans go to bid. He updated several other projects: Grant Street work shifting from mains to services, Witt Road utility pole and line relocation ahead of construction, Noble Street reconstruction planned for 2029 and coordination on park projects including skate‑park concepts.
Chief Batts reported operational and staffing updates for Lebanon Fire, saying the department has responded to 247 emergency calls, logged 550 training hours and completed 143 commercial inspections since the last meeting. He gave a Station 213 construction update: “The stair tower is projected to be completed on the 15th,” Batts said, and noted face brick is finished and siding and drywall work is underway. Batts also reported completed promotion processes for captain and lieutenant ranks and the hiring of Mike Francis, who the chief described as a 32‑year public‑safety veteran and a Purdue graduate who recently joined the department.
Planning Director Ben Botrigger told the board the planning office completed 136 building inspections and issued 93 permits in three weeks. He said Lennar is preparing permit activity in Liberty Village and flagged a 92‑unit multifamily project behind the former Optum medical office — one building of the project is planned as affordable senior housing — that appears on the city council agenda for related approvals.
Public Works Director Scott Calvert said the department collected 36,000 pounds of brush during recent brush week, completed drainage repairs and handled 653 utility‑locate requests; he also announced limb‑pickup dates in August and September.
Joe LePage of Communications and Community Development said the Symphony at Sunset drew roughly 400 people and the city has launched a LEAP Lebanon webpage to centralize district updates and answer public questions. Kevin said an LPD‑headquarters project kickoff has occurred and the city anticipates additional appropriations related to station renovations will appear before council.
Taken together, the updates outline a busy construction season and a short‑term traffic disruption for motorists on US 52. The board did not take any formal action on the engineering or capital projects during the meeting beyond noting items that will appear on council agendas.
