Indiana Interstate 65/70 To Shut Down For Nearly 2 Months

INDIANAPOLIS – Milestone Contractors has established an anticipated schedule for the $12.4 million project to close Interstates 65 and 70 for 59 days to reconstruct and lower pavement under seven bridges near the South Split.

Milestone’s schedule calls for closing I-65 and I-70 between the north and south splits after Labor Day onTuesday, Sept. 3. In order to safely implement the closure, contractors will require interstate lane restrictions beginning Sept. 2. Motorists travelling Interstates 65 and 70 through Indianapolis on Labor Day should be aware of reduced travel lanes and restricted work zones as contractors place signs, modify pavement markings and set barricades and barrier walls.

Preliminary work is scheduled to begin Aug. 21 on temporary traffic improvements that will be complete before the interstate closure. This work will require overnight restrictions, and advanced notice of exact times and locations will be announced:

• Widening the Pine Street entrance ramp to eastbound I-70 to accommodate two lanes
• Restriping New York Street and restricting some parking to allow for an additional traffic lane
• Building a temporary eastbound I-70 to southbound I-65 ramp configuration with a 30 mph speed limit

Utilities are currently being relocated in the area near the South Split to make way for the interstate pavement reconstruction. The relocations will require some temporary city street restrictions through August. The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) expects this work will be complete before the interstate closure.

Contractors have started placing advanced notice and detour signs that will be uncovered beginning Monday, Sept. 2. Overhead and portable dynamic message signs will also be used to give advanced warning of the closure to motorists.

INDOT is using dynamic message signs on interstate routes leading into the city to reinforce permit requirements and direct vehicles with heights of 13’6” and over to use I-465. The messages will be displayed in advance of the downtown interstate closure as a means to familiarize motorists to the official detour and prevent additional bridge strikes from oversize loads.

Motorists, residents and businesses are encouraged to visit www.SouthSplit.in.gov to learn details of the project and sign up for project email updates. Updates will also be provided on the Indiana Department of Transportation East Central Facebook page and on Twitter @INDOT_ECentral.

From INDOT:

The temporary closure of I-65/I-70 should have a negligible impact to interstate commerce. Using a comparison of lane miles computations, I-70 traffic will be detoured to I-465 around the south side of Indianapolis, adding only 2.2 miles to interstate travel. Re-routed I-65 through traffic via I-465 is approximately 20 miles around the west side of I-465, adding only 3 miles to the trip.

Diverted traffic will use I-465 around the south side of Indianapolis. The detour route will have no lane restrictions during this time, and INDOT will not plan for any lane closures in other nearby construction zones. Businesses requiring deliveries adjacent to the area closed are encouraged to determine alternate routes in advance.

INDOT will increase the Hoosier Helper workforce (free interstate service patrols) along I-465 to address incident response and minimize any incident impacts. INDOT is working with the Indiana Motor Trucking Association to provide information targeting the trucking industry.

View the South Split Project Area Map to review mainline interstate and ramp closures.

Visit the Detour Routes Map to Review I-65 and I-70 detour routes.