INDIANAPOLIS — Thousands of people will watch thousands of ducks meander down the Central Canal in Broad Ripple this Saturday.
The starting line for the annual duck races is just feet from yet another major construction project in the village that is running behind.
The Westfield Boulevard Bridge project started in January. Since then, crews have worked to rebuild one of the oldest bridges in Marion County. The original plan was to have construction finished by mid-April, but delays caused the finish line to be pushed back.
As was reported in early May, a spokesperson for the Indianapolis Department of Public Works said unforeseen underwater circumstances caused the project to be delayed. At the beginning of the month, the goal was for crews to partially reopen the road in 30 days, just in time for the duck races.
”It looks like it is any day now," said Jordan Dillon, the Executive Director of the Broad Ripple Village Association. "It would be a great Christmas morning surprise to wake up tomorrow and have those barricades out."
Dillon's vision doesn't seem to be in the cards. DPW officials said the goal is now for the road to be partially reopened on June 7. That means Westfield Boulevard over the canal will still be closed for the duck races, but businesses still think the event will draw a big crowd.
”I would expect a pretty good crowd," said Charles Smith of the Snow Zone snow cone stand that is situated near the construction site.
Construction on Westfield Boulevard has been ongoing for nearly six months, but businesses believe the roadwork hasn't impacted things as severely as was expected during the winter.
Still, business owners would prefer the orange barrels leave the heart of Broad Ripple.
"I rely on this traffic coming down Westfield Boulevard," Smith said.
Smith and other business owners are expecting a big boost in sales this weekend with the annual duck races on the Central Canal. Three thousand yellow rubber ducks will be dumped in the canal, and the first toy to float down to the pedestrian bridge near College Avenue will earn big prizes for its owners, along with the first male and female to finish in the 5K run.
"Those five winners will share in over $2,500 in gift cards from local businesses," Dillon said.
The Westfield Boulevard bridge construction zone will be right behind the starting line for the ducks, underscoring a third straight summer of construction in Broad Ripple.
The previous two busy seasons in the village have been marred by construction on Broad Ripple Avenue, the heart of the area. Now, the construction is finished, including a new river walk extending east up the avenue.
”It was obviously a painful process, but now we're really enjoying the wider sidewalks, the better lighting," Dillon said.
Dillon is looking forward to visitors enjoying the changes as they enter the first summer since the project finished.
”I think our businesses can feel it on the horizon," Dillon said. "And as long as our businesses keep on pushing, keep driving people in here, and as long as the people keep on coming in here to support this village, I think we've got great things ahead of us this summer."
The big weekend in Broad Ripple gets started Saturday morning with the Duck Race 5k at 10 a.m. The duck races will follow at 12:30 p.m.
From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., there will also be a variety of family-friendly games for kids of all ages.
You can still participate in the 5K or buy ducks for the race. Ducks are $6 each. Alternatively, race participants can purchase six ducks for $30.