Braving the Barrels
In Franklin, progress has never come without a little patience.
For decades, U.S. Highway 31 has served as one of the city’s busiest corridors — a roadway carrying commuters to work, families to dinner and visitors passing through Johnson County. Today, that same stretch of highway is undergoing one of the most significant infrastructure improvements in the city’s recent history.
Orange barrels line the roadway. Traffic patterns shift. Entrances sometimes require a second look. Yet behind the temporary inconvenience lies a larger vision — one focused on safety, connectivity and the long-term health of Franklin’s local economy.
And right now, the people working hardest to keep that vision moving forward are not only construction crews and engineers. They are the local business owners who continue to unlock their doors every morning along the U.S. Highway 31 corridor.
The Franklin Chamber of Commerce and the City of Franklin have joined forces to ensure those businesses remain visible, supported and thriving during the project. Their initiative, called Support 31, is more than a campaign — it is a reminder of the strong sense of community that has always defined Franklin.
Understanding the Construction
The current U.S. Highway 31 project, led by the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT), is being completed in several stages. According to Rosie Chambers, president of the Franklin Chamber of Commerce, the corridor improvements are part of a six-phase effort designed to modernize one of the community’s most heavily traveled roadways.
“Phase Three is underway right now,” Chambers says. “It spans from Hospital Road to Lemley Street — roughly from Walgreens to McDonald’s — and includes many restaurants, retail shops and professional services.”
This phase began earlier this year and is expected to wrap up in August 2026. Additional phases will continue through 2027, with the final stage projected to be completed in late fall of 2028.
For the more than 150 businesses located along the U.S. Highway 31 corridor, that timeline means navigating a multiyear construction process. Traffic patterns may change, entrances may temporarily shift and the once-familiar drive past storefronts now requires a bit more attention from drivers.
But Chambers emphasizes that every business remains open and ready to serve.
“It is important to note that all businesses are still open and operating during construction,” she says. “While traffic patterns may look different and entrances may not be as immediately visible from the roadway, every business intends to remain open and continue serving customers.”
In many cases, accessing those businesses simply means turning a little earlier, following posted access signs or using a side drive.
“Parking is available, doors are open and staff are ready to welcome customers,” Chambers says.
Supporting the Businesses That Support Franklin
For many residents, local restaurants and shops along U.S. 31 are woven into everyday life.
They are the places where families celebrate birthdays, where teenagers gather after school and where neighbors run into each other over coffee or frozen treats on a summer evening.
But construction can slow more than traffic.
Location analytics from Placer.ai show that customer traffic along the corridor declined about 8% over the past year compared to similar periods before construction began.
It may sound like a small number, but for small businesses operating on tight margins, even a modest drop in customers can make a difference.
That is why the Chamber and the City created the Support 31 initiative, a two-part campaign designed to keep the community informed while encouraging residents to continue shopping and dining along the corridor.
“The first part of the campaign focuses on information and awareness,” Chambers says. “We want to help businesses, residents and visitors learn more about the project timeline, where to find updates and how to ask questions.”
The Chamber has distributed informational brochures to businesses along the corridor and created a dedicated webpage with updates and resources for the community.
The second part of the campaign is about visibility.
“Our goal is to remind the community how important it is to support local businesses during construction,” Chambers says. “When traffic slows, commerce slows — and that ripple effect impacts all of Franklin.”
To keep the message positive, the Chamber even created a mascot for the campaign.
Meet Barry the Orange Barrel
With an orange slice for a smile, Barry appears in printed materials, window clings and social media posts, delivering updates while adding a bit of humor to the construction zone.
The playful symbol carries a serious message: brave the barrels and keep Franklin’s businesses strong.
A Stretch of Local Favorites
The stretch of U.S. Highway 31 currently under construction includes a wide range of establishments that many residents know well — from restaurants and coffee shops to retail stores and service providers.
For decades, families have stopped along this corridor for a quick meal after a long day or a sweet treat during summer evenings.
Places like Dairy Queen, Ritter’s Frozen Custard and Pana Donuts are just a few of the businesses experiencing the day-to-day reality of the construction.
At Dairy Queen, owner Joe Napier says the road work has certainly been noticeable.
“We have seen a decline in customer counts due to lane closures and congestion,” Napier says. “But we are hopeful that when it’s all sorted out, this will become the busiest stretch of U.S. 31 — not the most dangerous.”
Napier says the restaurant remains committed to serving the community despite the temporary challenges.
“I’m praying for those involved in all aspects of this road project and for our restaurant to thrive as it always has in Franklin,” he says. “The Napier family loves Franklin and we are happy to wait this process out to serve our customers the best we can.”
The restaurant has deep roots in the community. The Napier family has operated Dairy Queen in Franklin for 55 years, continuing a tradition of welcoming generations of families through its doors.
“Like the old DQ slogan says,” Napier adds with a smile, “We treat you right.”
A short drive down the corridor, Arron Sok, owner of Pana Donuts, says the construction has also made access a little more complicated at times — but the shop remains open and grateful for its loyal customers.
“Construction on U.S. 31 has definitely made access a little more challenging at times, but we’re still open and excited to welcome the community,” Sok says.
“At Pana Donuts in Franklin, we truly appreciate the support from local residents and customers who continue to visit small businesses during this time. We want everyone to know we’re here every day from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m., and we’re working hard to serve fresh donuts, coffee and boba tea.”
Sok says that community support makes a meaningful difference during periods like this.
“Supporting local businesses during construction really makes a difference for shops like ours, and we’re grateful for the community’s encouragement,” he says.
Each of these businesses — along with dozens of others — continues to welcome customers despite the shifting traffic patterns outside their doors.
And while entrances may sometimes require a little extra attention, the experience inside remains exactly what customers expect: familiar smiles, warm service and the sense of community that defines local businesses.
Safety at the Center of the Project
While construction often feels disruptive at the moment, the improvements being made along U.S. Highway 31 are designed to address long-standing safety concerns while preparing Franklin for future growth.
One of the key features being added is a series of reduced conflict intersections (RCIs). These intersections are designed to improve traffic flow while reducing the number of potential collision points between vehicles.
Studies show RCIs can significantly reduce crashes and create more predictable traffic patterns — an important benefit along a busy corridor used by commuters, delivery vehicles and local drivers alike.
Equally important are the improvements being made for pedestrians.
The project includes the construction of new sidewalks, crosswalks and a well-lit walking path, creating a safer and more accessible corridor for residents who want to explore the area on foot.
For families and students near nearby schools, these enhancements represent an important investment in safety.
Better lighting, improved crossings and dedicated pedestrian pathways will allow residents to move through the area more comfortably — whether they are walking to nearby businesses, exercising along the trail or simply enjoying the community.
Over time, these features will help transform the corridor from a highway people simply pass through into a space where people stop, walk and connect.
A Vision for Franklin’s Future
While the construction may feel like a challenge today, city leaders believe the improvements will ultimately strengthen Franklin’s economy and community identity.
Mayor Steve Barnett emphasized the long-term value of the project in a statement shared with Franklin Magazine:
“We encourage our residents to continue traveling U.S. Highway 31 as they always have, while showing a little extra patience as we work through the current road construction. Temporary inconvenience is never easy, but we are confident that the strong support for our local businesses will outweigh the frustration that can come with projects like this.
When completed, this project will provide meaningful improvements not only for vehicle traffic, but also for pedestrian access through the addition of a new trail system. We believe this trail will create the same kind of foot traffic opportunities for businesses along U.S. Highway 31 that our downtown businesses currently enjoy. In the long run, these enhancements will strengthen connectivity, accessibility and economic vitality throughout our community.”
In other words, the same sense of walkability and community that makes Franklin’s historic district so vibrant could eventually extend along the U.S. 31 corridor.
That means more opportunities for businesses, more convenient access for residents and a stronger connection between different parts of the city.
Infrastructure projects can reshape roads, but communities are shaped by people.
And in Franklin, support often looks simple: choosing to stop for dinner, picking up donuts on a Saturday morning or making a quick detour for frozen custard on a summer night.
Those choices matter.
“The Franklin Chamber and City of Franklin encourage you to brave the barrels and support local,” Chambers says. “These businesses add to our quality of place and employ our friends and neighbors. We want to ensure they remain strong during and after construction.”
Behind every storefront along U.S. Highway 31 is a team of employees, a family investment or a dream built through years of dedication.
And while orange barrels may temporarily reshape the road, they cannot change the spirit of a community that continues to show up for one another.
In the end, the message for Franklin residents is simple.
The road may look different right now. The drive might take an extra minute or two. But the businesses you love are still there.
The lights are on.
The doors are open.
And with the community’s continued support, they will still be there long after the last barrel is gone.
