The build and its end point
IndyGo's board awarded nearly $250 million in Blue Line construction contracts on December 19, 2024, and work began in 2025. The project page lists design complete in September 2024, groundbreaking in February 2025, construction from the second quarter of 2025 and service from late 2028. The line runs 24 miles from the Indianapolis airport to the Town of Cumberland by way of downtown, along I-70, Holt Road and Washington Street.
Twelve construction areas
IndyGo states that construction impacts run between 2025 and 2028 and that the work takes place in phases across 12 construction areas along the corridor. Each area carries its own status, and the segment notes were last updated in September 2026.
The areas, west to east: Holt Road to Rockville Road, scheduled for late 2026 through 2028; Rockville Road to Belmont Avenue, in progress; Belmont Avenue to White River Bridge, in progress; White River Bridge to Alabama Street along Washington and Maryland streets, in progress; Alabama Street to Southeastern Avenue, in progress with Southeastern Station work starting on or after October 1; Southeastern Avenue to State Avenue, in progress; State Avenue to Emerson Avenue, in progress; Emerson Avenue to Ritter Avenue, with an eastbound closure on or after November 1 set for about 160 days; Ritter Avenue to Arlington Avenue, with pavement restoration from Layman Avenue to Audubon Road on or after September 21 and further work in 2027; Arlington Avenue to Shadeland Avenue, scheduled for late 2027 through mid-2028; Shadeland Avenue to Post Road, in progress; and Post Road to Woodlark Drive, in progress.
IndyGo stops construction in the Irvington neighborhood from October 1 to October 31 between Ritter Avenue and Ridgeview Drive.
What each phase does at street level
Downtown, Maryland and Washington streets carry lane closures from West Street to Capitol Avenue for curb ramp construction, pedestrian improvements and station construction, with a minimum of one lane held in each direction. Construction is in progress on Statehouse Station at Washington Street and Capitol Avenue and Convention Center Station at Maryland Street and Capitol Avenue. The northern eastbound lane at the Maryland and West streets intersection is closed for the duration of the project, and one left turn lane is maintained. Inside lanes are barreled off from South White River Parkway to West Street for the Zoo Station and White River State Park stations, with up to two lanes held in each direction.
From Belmont Avenue to the White River Bridge, Washington Street is open to one lane in each direction. The Indianola Park underground detention facility is under construction, and single-day westbound closures are expected during Harding Street Station work. The page's pedestrian line for this area reads full accessibility tentatively from March 2026 while the area remains listed as in progress.
From Rockville Road to Belmont Avenue, westbound traffic is barred on or after September 14 and detours onto North White River Parkway, west onto Michigan Street, then south onto Holt Road. Eastbound access holds in a single lane.
East of downtown, Washington Street is closed to eastbound traffic from Southeastern to State avenues for storm sewer work and sidewalk and pavement restoration, with westbound access in a single lane. The same eastbound closure runs from State to Emerson avenues, with traffic detoured south on State Street, east on Southeastern Avenue, northeast on English Avenue, then north on Emerson Avenue, and lane restrictions run through spring 2027. From Shadeland Avenue to Post Road and from Post Road to Woodlark Drive, inside lanes are restricted for station construction at Sadlier Drive, Franklin Road and Fenton Avenue, with Cherry Tree Plaza and Mitthoeffer Road under construction for pedestrian and traffic signal installation.
Street-level access on the hotel and restaurant frontage
Washington Street carries hotel frontage through downtown. OpenStreetMap places Hyatt Regency Indianapolis at 101 W. Washington Street, Embassy Suites by Hilton Indianapolis Downtown at 110 W. Washington Street, The Westin Indianapolis at 241 W. Washington Street, Courtyard Indianapolis Downtown at 601 W. Washington Street, Fairfield Inn & Suites Indianapolis Downtown at 501 W. Washington Street, Hotel Indy at 141 E. Washington Street, La Quinta Inn & Suites at 401 E. Washington Street and Atlas Hotel at 433 E. Washington Street.
Restaurant and cafe frontage on the same street, from the same source: Claypool Coffee & Ice Cream and Tony's at 110 W. Washington Street, Ten Hands Social Bar & Eatery at 241 W. Washington Street, Crab 99 at 14 E. Washington Street, Three Dolls Cakery and Cafe at 1008 E. Washington Street, Ash & Elm Cider at 1301 E. Washington Street, Cafe Oztara at 1446 E. Washington Street and Tlaolli at 2830 E. Washington Street.
IndyGo states that a minimum of one lane in each direction is maintained downtown and that local access to residences and businesses is maintained for the duration of the project. The contractor coordinates with the city on trash collection and with the post office on mail delivery. The page adds that detour routes carry more traffic, which raises side-street volumes.
The supports for corridor businesses
IndyGo publishes a Business Toolkit with informational resources, signage and advertising opportunities, and the weekly email that announces each closure one to three weeks ahead. Two construction liaisons answer questions during business hours: Deaon Smith at deaon.smith@indygo.net or 317-296-3997, and Clarence Underwood of JQOL USA at cunderwood@jqolusa.com or 317-721-4633. The agency ran eight in-person construction open houses and one virtual meeting along the corridor.
What to ask for
IndyGo publishes no block-by-block access schedule and no station design for the Statehouse and Convention Center stations, and no month inside 2028. The closure list is tentative, and the limits and timelines of each closure arrive one to three weeks ahead by email. Ask the liaisons for the access schedule against each hotel frontage, and treat a 2028 opening as the end of the build.