Haughville Businesses, Neighbors Fear Impact of 16th Street Bridge Project

Residents and business owners raise concerns over planned bridge closure and construction timeline.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 2:48am

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A photorealistic studio still life showing a weathered, aged model of the 16th Street bridge floating on a clean white background, with dramatic lighting casting deep shadows to symbolize the weight of the infrastructure project and its impact on the surrounding community.A symbolic representation of the 16th Street bridge project's heavy burden on the Haughville community.Indianapolis Today

The Indianapolis Department of Public Works plans to shut down the 78-year-old 16th Street bridge over the White River for extensive repairs, raising concerns among nearby Haughville businesses and residents about the economic impact and public safety issues. Locals fear losing up to 20% of revenue for businesses like the longtime donut shop Long's Bakery, as well as delayed emergency response times, if at least one lane isn't kept open during construction. Community members pleaded with DPW officials to delay the project or find a way to maintain partial access, but the department said full closure is necessary for safety reasons.

Why it matters

The 16th Street bridge is a critical transportation link for the Haughville neighborhood, home to many small businesses that rely on the foot and vehicle traffic it brings. Prolonged closure could have a devastating economic impact on the community, while also raising public safety concerns around emergency response times. This clash between infrastructure needs and community impact highlights the challenges cities face in balancing progress and preservation.

The details

The Indianapolis Department of Public Works says the 16th Street bridge has only seen low-level maintenance in its 78 years, and an inspection report from nearly a decade ago noted 'advanced structure deterioration' that has only worsened. DPW plans to shut down the bridge entirely starting June 1 for extensive repairs, which they say is necessary for safety reasons and cannot be done while keeping at least one lane open. However, nearby businesses like the 71-year-old Long's Bakery fear losing up to 20% of their revenue over the next two years due to the loss of foot traffic, and Haughville residents worry about delayed emergency response times. Community members pleaded with DPW officials at a tense meeting to delay the project or find a way to maintain partial access, but the department said alternatives like phased construction were deemed impractical.

  • The 16th Street bridge has been in use for 78 years.
  • An inspection report from nearly a decade ago noted 'advanced structure deterioration'.
  • The project is expected to begin on June 1, 2026.

The players

Indianapolis Department of Public Works

The city agency responsible for maintaining Indianapolis' infrastructure, including the 16th Street bridge.

Robby Smith

Co-owner of Long's Bakery, a beloved Haughville donut institution that has been in business for 71 years.

Todd Wilson

Director of the Indianapolis Department of Public Works.

Greg Taylor

Indiana State Senator who advocated for the community to have more time to discuss solutions.

Kyle Bloyd

Chief Communications Officer for the Indianapolis Department of Public Works.

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What they’re saying

“We know that our die-hards have said they're willing to swim across the river just to get to us, and we appreciate that. But we rely on a lot of foot traffic.”

— Robby Smith, Co-owner, Long's Bakery

“Where is your heart? It is not for the people.”

— Community member

“I am willing to support your efforts if you are willing to delay this project so that we can have some further discussions about the possibility of making the bridge safe so that you can have at least one lane open.”

— Greg Taylor, Indiana State Senator

“We're certainly open to hearing more of the ideas from the state senator. Happy to schedule a meeting with him.”

— Kyle Bloyd, Chief Communications Officer, Indianapolis Department of Public Works

What’s next

State Senator Greg Taylor plans to schedule a meeting with Indianapolis Department of Public Works officials to further discuss potential solutions that could allow for partial access to the 16th Street bridge during construction.

The takeaway

This clash over the 16th Street bridge project highlights the difficult balance cities must strike between necessary infrastructure upgrades and the real-world impacts on local businesses and communities. While public safety is paramount, the concerns raised by Haughville residents underscore the need for more collaborative planning that considers all stakeholders when undertaking major transportation projects.