INDOT: I-70 expansion aimed at reducing accidents caused by “a lot of semi traffic”

A busy portion of Interstate 70 will soon be expanded as part of a construction project aimed at reducing accidents and congestion in Indiana. 

Indiana Department of Transportation crews will begin the first year of construction on Interstate 70 between County Road 700 to State Road 9. The second year of construction will be completed on I-70 between County Road 700 and Sugar Creek. This portion of the project will add an additional lane to the highway and is expected to be complete in a year. 

“This lane will give space to get people to move, to get around people, and help our first responders if there is an accident in the future,” Mallory Duncan, Indianapolis Department of Transportation (INDOT) strategic communications director.

“As many people know, there are a lot of congestion issues on I-70, and a lot of semi traffic,” continued Duncan. “Because of all the traffic, and because of all the semi traffic, obviously we have had numerous crashes out here.” Expanding warehouse operations on the west side of Hancock County have contributed to the increase in truck traffic, reported Fox 59.

The highway is expected to remain open throughout construction, which will help keep traffic flowing but poses a risk to traffic crews and distracted motorists. 

“We are going to maintain two lanes in both directions in a cross over pattern,” Duncan described. “All traffic will go on one side of the interstate while we work on the other side.”

“The biggest thing we see is people not paying attention to vehicles slowing down in front of them. When people aren’t paying attention in construction zones, they can hit someone in front of them.”