INDIANAPOLIS — The city of Indianapolis will close streets in three sections of the city, as restaurants move to offer outdoor seating only for the next six weeks due to COVID-19.
The closures are expected to last until the July 4 weekend.
In Broad Ripple, Broad Ripple Avenue will close from the Monon Trail to College Avenue.
On Mass Ave, the street will be closed from New York and Ohio streets to St. Clair Street and College Avenue.
And near Monument Circle, the southern half of the Circle will be closed. Illinois Street will also be closed from Market to Georgia streets.
"Our first priority is pedestrian safety," said DPW Director Dan Parker. "Adapting these locations into pedestrian corridors will provide the extra room needed to effectively distance ourselves from one another. It may also give restaurants without outdoor seating the opportunity to re-open to patrons using street space in the public right-of-way."
Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett also announced Tuesday restaurants can get fast-tracked permits for outdoor seating in parking lots. Any restaurant that already has outdoor seating does not need to apply for a new permit.
