A main roadway in and out of Zionsville is finally completely open, to the relief of residents, businesses and government officials.

A new bridge on Ind. 334, west of Zionsville, opened Saturday.

The project included replacing the bridge over Irishman’s Run, widening the lanes to 12 feet with a 10-foot shoulder, and elevating the road by four feet, according to a recent news release from the Indiana Department of Transportation. Poindexter Excavating did the work for about $2 million.

The contractor began working on the project at the beginning of May and closed the roadway and bridge June 22, said INDOT spokeswoman Debbie Calder.

An INDOT news release in June outlined a 120-closure with an expected completion date of Oct. 20. Weather likely caused the four-day delay, Calder said.

“The whole community is welcoming the completion of the project,” said Zionsville Town Council President Matt Price. “It did disrupt patterns around town significantly. While I think the community handled it very well and patiently, the completion of the project is certainly a welcome development.”

Price said the closure and detours likely led to some people having longer commutes to work and finding different ways to get to destinations.

The work affected some businesses along Ind. 334. Detour signs helped drivers get around, and INDOT kept the town up to date on progress, Price said.

“I’m sure some may have been affected by fewer potential drive-by customers,” he said. “It’s hard to tell exactly how downtown businesses were affected by travelers trying to come from the west to the downtown using (Ind.) 334.”

Calder said INDOT set up an official detour along state roads but also worked with the county to offer a detour along local roads. INDOT also worked with the county to prevent damage to county roads because of heavier traffic, she said.

The project has immediate benefits, such as restoring the normal traffic patterns and taking pressure off adjoining roadways that had been used for detours, Price said.

Benefits of the work include improved visibility, better approaches to the bridge and a stronger structure.

“It seems like a nicely done project,” he said. "It will be a useful asset to the community for years to come. We need other such improvements in other parts of our town.

“In the long term, the replacement of the bridge along (Ind.) 334 is really a necessary step as we continue to work toward taking control of (Ind.) 334 from the state and placing it under local control. It’s a big step forward toward completing that process.”

Although the road and bridge are open, the contractor will continue to work on grading, seeding, laying sod and installing permanent pavement marking over the next two weeks, the recent INDOT news release said.

Drivers may have to slow down and experience minor delays, and will have to follow directions given by flagmen, the release said.