Indianapolis, IN

30th Street Bridge opens on the west side after long delays

Published

1 month ago

March 13, 2026

30th Street Bridge opens on the west side after long delays

(MIRROR INDY) — Amber Toombs has been a resident of the Riverside neighborhood on the west side since 2014. But for a quarter of the time she’s lived there, she’s been unable to cross the 30th Street Bridge.

The historic bridge was built in 1908 and rehabilitated in 1979. Decades of use and breakdown of the limestone wore the bridge down to the point where another rehabilitation was required.

But the rehabilitation, which was scheduled to begin in 2020, experienced several delays that extended preparations and construction time by several years. Construction on the bridge began in 2022, which required the bridge to close.

Peoples’ patience for the project to be completed wore down faster than the bridge did. For many, the bridge closure resulted in them having to take miles-long detours to reach a spot 200 feet away.

“It closed forever ago,” Toombs said. “They said it was only going to be like one year, and it’s just added so much time onto this community’s commute.”

When westsiders got the chance to cross the bridge for the first time this week, some shouted “Hallelujah” from their vehicles as they crossed and others let their dogs do the celebrating by barking out open windows.

A man driving with a car full of barking dogs crosses the recently reopened 30th Street Bridge March 10, 2026. Credit: Enrique Saenz/Mirror Indy

“I’m glad it’s finally open. I know it took time, but they really made sure it came out nice. So, I appreciate that,” Toombs said.

What took so long?

After years of rehabilitation, the bridge looks almost exactly the same as it did before the project started. That’s on purpose.

The bridge is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Indianapolis Park and Boulevard System, which was designed by landscape architect George Kessler in 2003. Crews sought to modernize it while keeping as much of the original bridge as possible.

30th Street Bridge opens on the west side after long delays. (Provided Photos/Mirror Indy)

The project used the existing foundation but replaced portions of the arches. Crews reused the original limestone exterior by reassembling them piece by piece. They also used lighting fixtures that looked like the original ones.

Toombs thinks the crews did a good job with the bridge, but she shared a sentiment felt by many westside residents during the construction.

“I’m glad it’s back up, but it feels like it didn’t need to take this long,” Toombs said.

The project experienced several major delays before construction began and at its onset, pushing back the project by about two years.

Then federally protected barn swallows made their nest on the bridge, forcing workers to wait until after their nesting season to remove the nests and begin construction.

Once work began, engineers found the bridge was in worse condition than originally believed. New parts were needed, adding about a year to the timeline. Once the parts arrived, they were found to have defects that needed repairs and modifications. That slowed down work even more.

More bridge woes ahead

The opening of the 30th Street Bridge isn’t the end of bridge-based traffic woes on the west side. Some bridge construction remains. The Department of Public Works says the entire 30th Street Bridge project won’t be complete until May.

Vehicles cross the recently reopened 30th Street Bridge March 10, 2026. Credit: Enrique Saenz/Mirror Indy

DPW will also begin a project to extend the life of the 16th Street Bridge over the White River in June.

The pothole-covered deck of the bridge will be replaced and the substructure, the part that holds the bridge up, will be rehabilitated.

The project will require the bridge to close for about two years, during which time many residents will have to take a detour across the 30th Street Bridge.

“It’s gonna be a popular bridge,” Toombs said.

Mirror Indy, a nonprofit newsroom, is funded through grants and donations from individuals, foundations and organizations.

Mirror Indy reporter Enrique Saenz covers west Indianapolis. Contact him at 317-983-4203 or enrique.saenz@mirrorindy.org. Follow him on Bluesky at @enriquesaenz.bsky.social.

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Indianapolis, IN

Pirates farm report for April 18, 2026: Rafael Flores Jr. hits 1st homer in Indianapolis win

Published

7 hours ago

April 19, 2026

Press Room

Pirates farm report for April 18, 2026: Rafael Flores Jr. hits 1st homer in Indianapolis win

INDIANAPOLIS (Triple A, 6-14) thumped Omaha (Royals), 11-3. 1B Rafael Flores Jr. (.206) went 2 for 3 with a double, his first home run, two runs scored and three RBIs. LF Tyler Callihan (.239) went 3 for 4 with a double and his first homer, a two-run shot. DH Enmanuel Valdez (.273) went 2 for 4 with his first homer and three runs scored. RF Esmerlyn Valdez (.258) went 2 for 5 with two doubles and a run scored. SS Davis Wendzel (.269) went 1 for 3 with a double, two walks, two runs scored and two RBIs. RHP Carson Fulmer (2-0, 5.51) started, gave up three runs on three hits in five innings and earned the win. RHP Chris Devenski (1.50) and LHP Joe La Sorsa (3.24) each pitched two scoreless innings.

Next: Sunday at Omaha (Royals), 3:05 p.m.

ALTOONA (Double-A, 2-12) had two hits – both solo home runs – and beat Portland (Red Sox), 2-0. LHP Dominic Perachi (1-0, 1.80) started and went six innings, allowing three hits and two walks with three strikeouts. RHP Landon Tomkins (3.38) followed with two scoreless. RHP Jaycob Deese (3.00) worked the ninth for his first save. LF Titus Dumitru (.146) went 1 for 3 with his second homer. C Shawn Ross (.182) went 1 for 3 with his second homer.

Next: Sunday vs. Portland (Red Sox), 1 p.m.

GREENSBORO (High-A, 10-4) lost 8-3 to Brooklyn (Mets). C Easton Carmichael (.273) went 2 for 4 with an RBI. RF Shalin Polanco (.250) went 1 for 3 with a stolen base and an RBI. 1B Jared Jones (.277) went 2 for 5 with a run scored. RHP Carlson Reed (0-1, 7.36) started, recorded one out and gave up four runs on two hits and four walks. RHP Jose Garces (3.60) pitched two scoreless innings.

Next: Sunday at Brooklyn (Mets), 2 p.m.

BRADENTON (Low-A, 5-9) allowed seven stolen bases in its 6-5 loss to Tampa (Yankees). CF Edward Florentino, starting a rehab assignment as he recovers from an ankle injury, went 1 for 3 with a walk, double and run scored. LHP Reinold Navarro (6.43) started and gave up three hits, four walks and two earned runs over three innings while striking out five. SS/1B Eddie Rynders (.128) went 2 for 4 with a double and an RBI. DH Edgleen Perez (.238) went 1 for 4 and drove in two runs. LF/CF Josh Tate (.208) went 2 for 5 with an RBI. 2B/SS Antonio Pimentel (.154) went 2 for 4 with a double. RHP Greiber Mendez (5.40) and RHP Noah Murdock (0-1, 9.00), who took the loss, each gave up two hits and one run in one inning. RHP Treyson Peters pitched the final three innings, allowing five hits, one earned run and one walk while striking out two.

Next: Sunday at Tampa (Yankees), noon

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Indianapolis, IN

The Zone Extra | April 18, 2026

Published

19 hours ago

April 18, 2026

Press Room

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — It was another busy week in high school sports in central Indiana and ‘The Zone Extra’ has it all covered.

Athlete of the week and Guerin Catholic senior outfielder Ian Taylor is off to a scorching hot start to the young season. Check out his interview as well as Guerin Catholic head coach Dave Schrage talk about Taylor’s success.

The Johnson County baseball tournament came to a close. See highlights from Center Grove’s tournament victory.

The 4A baseball coaches poll was released as well as the 3A softball coaches poll.

The former Columbus North gymnastics coach, John Hinds, passed away at 88 years old.

Center Grove head softball coach Alyssa Coleman joins the show for a coaches corner conversation.

See highlights from the Colts Local Pro Day, featuring several former Hoosiers and Purdue’s Devin Mockobee.

Girls lacrosse is in the first season as an IHSAA emerging sport.

All of that, and more, can be found in the full The Zone Extra show above.

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Indianapolis, IN

Tornado watches issued for counties north and west of Indianapolis

Published

1 day ago

April 18, 2026

Press Room

Tornado watches issued for counties north and west of Indianapolis

(WISH) — A tornado watch was issued until 3 a.m. EDT Saturday for counties northwest and west of Indianapolis, and into Illinois.

Indiana counties in the watch area are Boone, Carroll, Cass, Clay, Clinton, Elkhart, Fountain, Fulton, Howard, Kosciusko, La Porte, Marshall, Miami, Montgomery, Parke, Pulaski, Putnam, St. Joseph, Starke, Tippecanoe, Vermillion, Vigo, Wabash, Warren and White. The watch area includes the cities of Crawfordsville, Elkhart, Lafayette, Lebanon, South Bend, Terre Haute, and West Lafayette.

The National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center has issued two watches in Indiana. The other one until midnight EDT Friday includes the Indiana counties of Benton, Jasper, Lake, Newton and Porter. That includes the city of Gary. That watch also extends into Illinois.

Storms on Friday night in central Illinois, Iowa, Missouri and Minnesota led to dozens of confirmed tornado warnings. The storms in central Illinois has gusts up to 80 mph, and tornadoes embedded in heavy rain.

An alert issued after 10:30 p.m. Friday from the National Weather Service at Indianapolis said, “A line of strong thunderstorms is nearing the state line with a history of widespread damaging winds and tornadoes. The line is expected to continue to produce damaging winds as it moves into Indiana with the potential for additional tornadoes. The line is then expected to gradually weaken as it moves further into the state.”

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