Board approves 60‑day closure of Witt Road for roundabout construction tied to I‑65/US‑52 interchange

The Lebanon Board of Works and Public Safety approved a planned 60‑day full closure of Witt Road beginning Sept. 18 to permit construction of a roundabout approximately one quarter mile north of County Road 300 North. The work is tied to the new I‑65/US‑52 interchange project and coordinated with the state and Eli Lilly, the engineering presentation said.

Kevin Kralik, city engineer, told the board the state proposed a full closure so crews can build the roundabout “outside of traffic,” which will accelerate construction and avoid building during peak traffic periods for the Lilly site. The closure would run from Sept. 18 through Nov. 18; a temporary runaround (shown in the project plans) will be constructed but will be open only to emergency vehicles, police, fire, EMS and heavy deliveries that need access to the Lilly site — it will be closed to public passenger vehicles.

Kralik said the full‑closure approach reduces the overall construction time compared with building the roundabout under traffic, which he said would take more than twice as long. The plans shown to the board include the temporary runaround (restricted access) and indicated detours for general traffic during the closure.

The board voted to approve the closure. Board members did not record any amendments to the closure plan at the meeting; city staff indicated the closure would start Sept. 18 if permitting and notifications are completed.

The board’s approval covers the street‑closure request only; construction sequencing and traffic control will be handled under the state’s and contractor’s traffic control plans and permits.