(MIRROR INDY) — The roar is loud and constant at Candace Miller’s home on West McCarty Street. Living about 100 feet from Interstate 70’s westbound lane means she’s been able to hear every vehicle every day for the past two and a half years.

She’s gotten used to the din. Now the only time she worries about the interstate is when other sounds pierce the roar, such as crashes or sirens — or the rattle of a stranger trying to open her neighbor’s door. Sometimes, she says, they happen all at once.

“We’ve had cars come off the road after they get in wrecks,” she said. “Then people jump the fence and try to get into peoples homes to not get caught by the police.”

Families living in dozens of West Indianapolis homes on McCarty Street, Wyoming Street and others that run parallel to the interstate are only separated from it by an embankment, a few sparse trees and a waist-high chain link fence.

Miller said she’d like some sound barriers to reduce the noise, but she said the state should prioritize things that could protect her home, such as more lighting on the interstate and more protective fencing on the embankments.

“If it’s raining and it’s dark, you can’t see anything,” she said. “I feel they should spend some money and make sure people that are driving can see better.”

Miller’s concerns are the types of comments the Indiana Department of Transportation wants to hear from Indianapolis residents as it considers the future of the inner loop, made up of I-70 and Interstate 65.

Both interstate routes were built in the 1970s and are nearing the end of their service lives. INDOT plans to modernize them, but it first wants to hear how residents think it should approach the upgrades.

The agency is taking public comments through its Pro Planning and Environment Linkages program, or ProPEL Indy, until June 30 and will have several public information sessions around the city.

Original project split neighborhoods

When the Indianapolis portions of I-65 and I-70 were originally built, the interstates split neighborhoods, such as West Indianapolis, in the path of the selected inner loop routes. About 8,000 buildings were demolished for the projects, displacing about 17,000 residents, according to the Oct. 15, 1976, edition of the Indianapolis Star.

Little consideration was given to how the projects would affect those neighborhoods. The projects were designed in the 1960s and predated the 1970 National Environmental Policy Act, which requires environmental impact assessments for major federal actions. That includes how a proposed project would affect the people living near it.

Many residents at the time were unhappy with the project. Some would form groups like the West Indianapolis Neighborhood Congress that would scrutinize future transportation projects and would oppose the projects when they didn’t serve the interests of the community they represented. The group and other city residents successfully opposed the construction of a proposed Harding Street freeway that would have linked I-65 in the north to I-465 in the south through I-70.

Building projects around residents’ needs

ProPEL Indy project manager Tim Miller said future interstate projects will be planned with the needs of the public, businesses, and other organizations in mind instead of imposing the projects’ needs on them. 

“What we’re trying to ask people to do is re-imagine how those interstates function within our community, whether that’s from a mobility standpoint, safety standpoint, or efficiency standpoint,” Miller said. “Instead of just giving ideas about this — saying this is how it will be — let’s have a conversation about how we want (interstates) to function in our community.”

The feedback that state officials receive from the public will be used to create plans for the interstate sometime next year. At that point, they’ll ask for more input. 

“This is a generational study,” Miller said. “It’s very important that people get engaged.”

Residents like Miller expressed concerns that the outreach was just a formality before the state builds newer and bigger versions of the existing interstate, like the North Split project connecting I-65 and I-70 in the northeast part of the inner loop. 

“They’ll act like, ‘We’ll take your comments,’ just to say it and pretend like they’re trying to have your back, but in my experience nothing’s ever done with that feedback,” Miller said.

But others are optimistic about the prospects of changing the interstate system for the better.

“I’m very impressed with their outreach. I think that they’re taking it seriously,” said Jakob Morales, who works on the west side. “These are projects that are going to be around for a very long time and affect millions of people. This is the future, so it’s important to them.” 

Morales said he wants INDOT to completely reimagine the interstate system.

“(They should consider) highway elimination and transforming them into slower boulevards that are dense, transit oriented and that aren’t going to leave us with these polluting interstates for the next 50 years,” he said.

What do you think?

ProPEL Indy will hold several more information sessions this month and will accept public comments online until June 30.

Tuesday, June 18

Martin University

2186 N. Sherman Dr.

3-5 p.m.

Wednesday, June 26

Guion Creek Middle School

4401 W. 52nd St.

4-6 p.m.

For more information, head to the ProPEL Indy website. 

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The annual Indy Juneteenth Festival brought networking, business, and artistic opportunities to attendees on Saturday afternoon.

The celebrations started with the annual parade beginning at 10 a.m., and the festival began at noon.

The festival featured food trucks, games, vendors, and bounce houses, but it isn’t just a good time for some.

“Do you know how many people that are not aware of this particular holiday, so to hold events like this and to get people aware, and to be embracing and get people involved in this culture, that’s freedom,” Miss Indy Juneteenth 2024 Rachelle Jackson said.

Much of that freedom was expressed through art at the festival.

“I performed a song I wrote called ‘In Living Color,’ it’s a song that is inspired by today’s times,” artist Curtis Gaedie, or Pisces the Poet, said, after performing at the festival.

The spirit of the holiday was also expressed through business opportunities.

DeShonda Patterson is the owner of Different Day Baked Goods.

“You name it, I can bake it,” Patterson said. “This is a great opportunity for me to get our family business’ name out there.”

P Styled Kreations owner Pernecia Ferguson said she is grateful for the opportunity to sell her upcycled denim pieces and customized jewelry at the festival. It’s her third year there.

“I customize my own jewelry, I upcycle blue jean jackets, I repurpose jackets.” Ferguson said.

The festival also offered a chance for some parents to pass along traditions to their children.

Kwashaad Smith, who lives on the west side of Indianapolis, brought his second grade son out for the fun.

“It means everything, because we got on stage to rock the mic together,” Smith said.

The Indianapolis Colts need help at safety. Justin Simmons, one of the NFL’s best players at the position, is currently a free agent. With that said, a Simmons-to-Indy scenario just makes a ton of sense.

Surprisingly, Simmons is still available. After the Denver Broncos released him in March, you would think he would’ve signed with another team by now. But obviously, that hasn’t happened yet. Justin Simmons is an immensely talented Pro-Bowler who could immediately upgrade the Colts secondary.

Indianapolis Colts Need to Land Free Agent Safety Justin Simmons

Justin Simmons’ Football Career

After playing his college ball at Boston College, Justin Simmons was selected by the Broncos in the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft. He went on to have an astounding eight-year career in Denver. Simmons earned two Pro Bowl nods and was named a four-time Associated Press second-team All-Pro. He also earned an NFL Top 100 selection three times. In addition, he was a three-time nominee for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award.

Justin Simmons had several outstanding plays during his time with the Broncos. He came up with game-winning interceptions versus the Oakland (now Las Vegas) Raiders in 2017, the Miami Dolphins in 2020, and the Washington Commanders during the 2021 season. Perhaps his most memorable play came in 2016 when he blocked an extra point against the New Orleans Saints. Fellow safety Will Parks ultimately returned it as Denver won the game.

Simmons is the league’s only player to record at least three interceptions in each of the past six seasons. He tied for the NFL lead in interceptions during the 2022 season.

2023 was a Pro Bowl campaign for Simmons. The Florida native produced 70 tackles, three interceptions, eight passes defended, two forced fumbles, and a sack.

Why Indianapolis Should Sign Him

The Colts selected a pair of designated safeties (Jaylon Carlies and Jaylin Simpson) in the fifth round of this year’s draft. However, both players are moving to different positions. Carlies will play linebacker while Simpson switches to cornerback. Therefore, the Colts really didn’t address the safety position via the draft.

Indianapolis did re-sign Julian Blackmon this offseason, though. While he’s guaranteed to start at strong safety, the free safety spot is up for grabs. Daniel Scott, who was competing for a starting spot, suffered a season-ending injury this spring for the second consecutive year.

Simmons would be perfect for the job. Although he’s 30 years old, he hasn’t shown signs of slowing down. He and Blackmon could form a dynamic one-two punch this upcoming season. Plus, Simmons could mentor Indy’s young safeties like 22-year-old Nick Cross.

After signing all nine of their draft picks, the Colts currently have about $25 million in cap space. That means they have enough money to sign Simmons, whose expected salary is roughly $11 million.

It’s unclear whether Colts general manager Chris Ballard will add a veteran safety this offseason or rely on young players like Cross and Rodney Thomas II. But if he chooses to go that route, Justin Simmons needs to be the guy.

Main Photo Credit: Syndication: The Indianapolis Star