Unmapped infrastructure delays 2nd Street Thoroughfare Project completion until late October

COLUMBUS, Ind. - Drivers navigating downtown Columbus can expect ongoing lane restrictions as crews work through underground delays on the 2nd Street Thoroughfare Project.

City officials report that crews with Dave O'Mara Contractor, Inc. have continually encountered century-old, unmapped utility infrastructure beneath the roadways.

Work at the Franklin Street intersection recently revealed an unmapped, operational utility main, requiring overnight crews to excavate between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. to minimize traffic disruptions.

Contractors say most work will finish in late October, with final street landscaping to follow shortly after. The city has also finalized traffic staging and safety routes with organizers of the upcoming Ethnic Expo to ensure festival operations run smoothly around active construction areas.

Motorists are encouraged to use alternative downtown routes and exercise caution near work zones.