As work continues on the Washington Street bridge over Little Eagle Creek, some residents say the construction site is becoming dangerous. The historic 100-year-old bridge on the west side of Indianapolis has been closed since the spring, when Indy DPW started making repairs to the structure. It's expected to remain closed for several more months. Despite clear signage and barricades, pedestrians, cyclists and even drivers pass through anyway. "We do ask that you keep your head up and you always pay attention," said IMPD Ofc. Tommy Thompson. Drivers are not permitted to pass through closed construction sites. That goes for pedestrians, too, Thompson said. "That means pedestrians need to be careful," said Thompson, "because they cannot just walk through a construction area." Local businessmen tell 13News they've witnessed several cars try to cross Washington Street and end up stuck at the bottom of the work site. Indy DPW responded to the concerns with a statement Tuesday: "DPW encourages all drivers and pedestrians to adhere to the posted construction signs and to avoid construction sites. Detour signs are placed to guide drivers and pedestrians away from active construction sites, which keeps them and our construction workers safe. It is imperative that drivers and pedestrians choose the safest route for everyone by taking the detour route." Chris Garvin, who rides his bike on Indy's west side every day, said taking the detour is easier said than done. "It's not an effective detour," said Garvin. "This is bad. It's unsafe." While the detour is clearly marked around the Washington Street closure for both eastbound and westbound traffic, Garvin said it is not realistic for pedestrians and cyclists. "There's a big stretch of this gap that the bus misses where people have to walk and get off or go all the way back around," said Garvin, "so it's really a danger, yeah." "But again, it's giving yourself that allowable time," said Thompson. "You know there is a lot of construction in the city, and while some may think it's an inconvenience, this big picture is, think about how much better this will be when it's all said and done, and how much that helps all of us to create a convenience in the end." The bridge, which was supposed to reopen by now, is expected to be done in summer 2025. Indy DPW is now sharing weekly updates on the project online. However, as of October 29, there hadn't been an update in 18 days. “I love the city, don’t get me wrong," said Garvin, "but the infrastructure is terrible.” One local business started a petition, asking the city of Indianapolis to prioritize and accelerate the project. So far, it has received more than 2,700 signatures. https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/west-indianapolis-washington-street-bridge-construction-project-becoming-safety-risk/531-0d3236fc-9f20-4ebc-885b-ef3dece49ae1