Update on I-69 Extension in Indiana

[SkyPesos]

Two things that bug me; INDOT still has not signed a control city on northbound I-69 between Evansville & Bloomington. I don't know what they are waiting on.

Maybe they're waiting for its completion and sign Indianapolis as the NB control city.

[sprjus4]

Two things that bug me; INDOT still has not signed a control city on northbound I-69 between Evansville & Bloomington. I don't know what they are waiting on.

Maybe they're waiting for its completion and sign Indianapolis as the NB control city.

I believe they are, but I don't know why they don't just sign Indianapolis now.

[nwi_navigator_1181]

INDOT still has not signed a control city on northbound I-69 between Evansville & Bloomington. I don't know what they are waiting on.

They're waiting for I-69 to be finished all the way to I-465. It's more cost efficient for INDOT to place "Indianapolis"  in the blank field after everything is said and done, versus placing a temporary control ("Bloomington"  being the obvious choice) then going back and replacing it with "Indianapolis"  later. INDOT doesn't have the same signing philosophy that IDOT next door has (placing secondary control cities along minor, less traveled interchanges), so that's why they're staying blank for a few years more.

[CtrlAltDel]

INDOT still has not signed a control city on northbound I-69 between Evansville & Bloomington. I don't know what they are waiting on.

They’re waiting for I-69 to be finished all the way to I-465. It’s more cost efficient for INDOT to place “Indianapolis” in the blank field after everything is said and done, versus placing a temporary control (“Bloomington” being the obvious choice) then going back and replacing it with “Indianapolis” later. INDOT doesn’t have the same signing philosophy that IDOT next door has (placing secondary control cities along minor, less traveled interchanges), so that’s why they’re staying blank for a few years more.

But I don't see why they can't put Indianapolis on the signs now. Why would there be a need for temporary control cities? The road, barring a temporary detour through Martinsville, already goes there.

[nwi_navigator_1181]

INDOT still has not signed a control city on northbound I-69 between Evansville & Bloomington. I don't know what they are waiting on.

They're waiting for I-69 to be finished all the way to I-465. It's more cost efficient for INDOT to place "Indianapolis"  in the blank field after everything is said and done, versus placing a temporary control ("Bloomington"  being the obvious choice) then going back and replacing it with "Indianapolis"  later. INDOT doesn't have the same signing philosophy that IDOT next door has (placing secondary control cities along minor, less traveled interchanges), so that's why they're staying blank for a few years more.

But I don't see why they can't put Indianapolis on the signs now. Why would there be a need for temporary control cities? The road, barring a temporary detour through Martinsville, already goes there.

You're not wrong. I'm just trying to get the pulse of INDOT thinking. Oftentimes, it's not easy.

[ilpt4u]

Not just add the Indy NB Control...also install Distance/Destination Mileage signage NB as well, since the finalized routing to I-465 is now known

[CtrlAltDel]

INDOT still has not signed a control city on northbound I-69 between Evansville & Bloomington. I don't know what they are waiting on.

They're waiting for I-69 to be finished all the way to I-465. It's more cost efficient for INDOT to place "Indianapolis"  in the blank field after everything is said and done, versus placing a temporary control ("Bloomington"  being the obvious choice) then going back and replacing it with "Indianapolis"  later. INDOT doesn't have the same signing philosophy that IDOT next door has (placing secondary control cities along minor, less traveled interchanges), so that's why they're staying blank for a few years more.

But I don't see why they can't put Indianapolis on the signs now. Why would there be a need for temporary control cities? The road, barring a temporary detour through Martinsville, already goes there.

You're not wrong. I'm just trying to get the pulse of INDOT thinking. Oftentimes, it's not easy.

Ah. That makes sense. INDOT, not so much. 

[GaryV]

Not just add the Indy NB Control...also install Distance/Destination Mileage signage NB as well, since the finalized routing to I-465 is now known

Won't that distance change between "current state" and "final state"?  Would you have them post the "final" distance now, which is currently in error?

[tdindy88]

Won't that distance change between "current state" and "final state"?  Would you have them post the "final" distance now, which is currently in error?

Mileage signs along Section 5 from Bloomington north to Martinsville currently have the distance to Indianapolis on them, presumably it's final mileage. There's nothing stopping them from wanting to add more signs at this point. Alas I suppose this may not be the best year to have giant signs reading Indianapolis when you have the Martinsville closure going on. I'm sure INDOT would love to keep as many people off the interstate as possible. I can see the idea of waiting until it is finished. But the mileage signs could be done today without too many issues.

[Henry]

Won't that distance change between "current state" and "final state"?  Would you have them post the "final" distance now, which is currently in error?

Mileage signs along Section 5 from Bloomington north to Martinsville currently have the distance to Indianapolis on them, presumably it's final mileage. There's nothing stopping them from wanting to add more signs at this point. Alas I suppose this may not be the best year to have giant signs reading Indianapolis when you have the Martinsville closure going on. I'm sure INDOT would love to keep as many people off the interstate as possible. I can see the idea of waiting until it is finished. But the mileage signs could be done today without too many issues.

Well, since I-69 is going back to Indianapolis anyway, there should be no reason not to put that on signs, especially since the highway it will replace (IN 37) also goes there. But I guess that waiting would be the smart thing to do, as construction rolls on.

[OCGuy81]

Apologies, as I'm positive this has been asked, but how will INDOT route 69 through Indy? 

[NWI_Irish96]

Apologies, as I'm positive this has been asked, but how will INDOT route 69 through Indy? 

Along the east/south legs of I-465

[abqtraveler]

Apologies, as I'm positive this has been asked, but how will INDOT route 69 through Indy?

It's widely speculated that I-69 will follow the south and east legs of I-465 around Indy, but INDOT has not yet made an official announcement of the route I-69 will take through/around Indy.

[OCGuy81]

Apologies, as I'm positive this has been asked, but how will INDOT route 69 through Indy?

It's widely speculated that I-69 will follow the south and east legs of I-465 around Indy, but INDOT has not yet made an official announcement of the route I-69 will take through/around Indy.

Thank you!

[NWI_Irish96]

Apologies, as I'm positive this has been asked, but how will INDOT route 69 through Indy?

It's widely speculated that I-69 will follow the south and east legs of I-465 around Indy, but INDOT has not yet made an official announcement of the route I-69 will take through/around Indy.

https://www.i69finishline.com/frequently-asked-questions/

Between its north and south junctions with I-465, I-69 will run concurrent with the southeast leg of I-465. I-69 mile markers and exit numbers resume at 200 starting at the north junction with I-465 in Castleton.

[abqtraveler]

Apologies, as I'm positive this has been asked, but how will INDOT route 69 through Indy?

It's widely speculated that I-69 will follow the south and east legs of I-465 around Indy, but INDOT has not yet made an official announcement of the route I-69 will take through/around Indy.

https://www.i69finishline.com/frequently-asked-questions/

Between its north and south junctions with I-465, I-69 will run concurrent with the southeast leg of I-465. I-69 mile markers and exit numbers resume at 200 starting at the north junction with I-465 in Castleton.

Okay, well that's new. So I would take that as official word from INDOT that I-69 will be routed over the south and east legs of I-465.

[OCGuy81]

Apologies, as I'm positive this has been asked, but how will INDOT route 69 through Indy?

It's widely speculated that I-69 will follow the south and east legs of I-465 around Indy, but INDOT has not yet made an official announcement of the route I-69 will take through/around Indy.

https://www.i69finishline.com/frequently-asked-questions/

Between its north and south junctions with I-465, I-69 will run concurrent with the southeast leg of I-465. I-69 mile markers and exit numbers resume at 200 starting at the north junction with I-465 in Castleton.

Okay, well that's new. So I would take that as official word from INDOT that I-69 will be routed over the south and east legs of I-465.

Wow! That will be quite the multiplex.  You'll have Interstate 465,74,69; US 36,40 ; IN 37.

[SkyPesos]

Apologies, as I'm positive this has been asked, but how will INDOT route 69 through Indy?

It's widely speculated that I-69 will follow the south and east legs of I-465 around Indy, but INDOT has not yet made an official announcement of the route I-69 will take through/around Indy.

https://www.i69finishline.com/frequently-asked-questions/

Between its north and south junctions with I-465, I-69 will run concurrent with the southeast leg of I-465. I-69 mile markers and exit numbers resume at 200 starting at the north junction with I-465 in Castleton.

Okay, well that's new. So I would take that as official word from INDOT that I-69 will be routed over the south and east legs of I-465.

Wow! That will be quite the multiplex.  You'll have Interstate 465,74,69; US 36,40 ; IN 37.

Once you get past the east end of the I-74 concurrency, there would be I-465, I-69, US 31, US 36, US 40, US 52, US 421, IN 37, IN 67 on the 1 1/2 mile long stretch between the US 52 and US 40 interchanges. Think that's the most amount of routes concurrent on I-465.

[mvak36]

Apologies, as I'm positive this has been asked, but how will INDOT route 69 through Indy?

It's widely speculated that I-69 will follow the south and east legs of I-465 around Indy, but INDOT has not yet made an official announcement of the route I-69 will take through/around Indy.

https://www.i69finishline.com/frequently-asked-questions/

Between its north and south junctions with I-465, I-69 will run concurrent with the southeast leg of I-465. I-69 mile markers and exit numbers resume at 200 starting at the north junction with I-465 in Castleton.

Okay, well that's new. So I would take that as official word from INDOT that I-69 will be routed over the south and east legs of I-465.

Wow! That will be quite the multiplex.  You'll have Interstate 465,74,69; US 36,40 ; IN 37.

Yes it will be. US31, US52, US421, and IN67 will also be multiplexed along various points of that 465 route.

[I-55]

Apologies, as I'm positive this has been asked, but how will INDOT route 69 through Indy?

It's widely speculated that I-69 will follow the south and east legs of I-465 around Indy, but INDOT has not yet made an official announcement of the route I-69 will take through/around Indy.

https://www.i69finishline.com/frequently-asked-questions/

Between its north and south junctions with I-465, I-69 will run concurrent with the southeast leg of I-465. I-69 mile markers and exit numbers resume at 200 starting at the north junction with I-465 in Castleton.

Okay, well that's new. So I would take that as official word from INDOT that I-69 will be routed over the south and east legs of I-465.

Wow! That will be quite the multiplex.  You'll have Interstate 465,74,69; US 36,40 ; IN 37.

Once you get past the east end of the I-74 concurrency, there would be I-465, I-69, US 31, US 36, US 40, US 52, US 421, IN 37, IN 67 on the 1 1/2 mile long stretch between the US 52 and US 40 interchanges. Think that's the most amount of routes concurrent on I-465.

IN-37 will be decommissioned between Bloomington and Fishers, correct?

[ITB]

For a change of pace and a little history. Shades of the upgrade of State Road 37 to I-69, but a hundred years ago.

In the early 1920s, nearly a dozen states and their respective counties, from Michigan to Florida, were hard at work endeavoring to make the Dixie Highway a useful, passable road for the automobile traveling public. It was no small task.

For those not familiar with the Dixie Highway, it was one of the first interstate road systems in the United States, connecting the upper Midwest to the South, particularly the state of Florida. It was not a single road, but a network, with eastern and western branches, and connector roads between the two. The western branch of the Highway went through Indiana, passing through Indianapolis, and thence south through Martinsville, Bloomington, Bedford and Paoli, where it shifted southeast to continue on to Louisville. The Dixie Highway was conceived in 1914 by Carl G. Fisher. By 1915, an association had formed to promote the road and construction commenced. In 1927, the highway was taken over by the federal government and substantial portions incorporated into the U.S. Route system, while other sections become state roads.

Here's a sampling from The Dixie Highway newsletter, which was published from 1915 to 1925:

The Dixie Highway newsletter

Route map and mileage chart of the Dixie Highway. (Vol. 10, No. 7; August 1924)


Road conditions of the Dixie Highway. (Vol. 10, No. 7; August 1924)


Ninety-seven years ago, work was underway to improve the section between Indianapolis and Martinsville. (Vol. 10, No. 7; August 1924)


Consternation and concern over the Highway's closure in Monroe County, Indiana, for road improvements. (Vol. 11, No. 4; April 1925)


The Dixie Highway and bridge over Beanblossom Creek near Dolan in Monroe County, c. 1920. Note: photo is in the public domain.

All of the above material is in the public domain. For those interested in browsing other issues of The Dixie Highway, here's the link:

https://catalog.hathitrust.org/api/volumes/oclc/29628891.html

Edit: Changed the date of Dolan bridge photo from c. 1915 to 1920.

[abqtraveler]

Apologies, as I'm positive this has been asked, but how will INDOT route 69 through Indy?

It's widely speculated that I-69 will follow the south and east legs of I-465 around Indy, but INDOT has not yet made an official announcement of the route I-69 will take through/around Indy.

https://www.i69finishline.com/frequently-asked-questions/

Between its north and south junctions with I-465, I-69 will run concurrent with the southeast leg of I-465. I-69 mile markers and exit numbers resume at 200 starting at the north junction with I-465 in Castleton.

Okay, well that's new. So I would take that as official word from INDOT that I-69 will be routed over the south and east legs of I-465.

Wow! That will be quite the multiplex.  You'll have Interstate 465,74,69; US 36,40 ; IN 37.

Once you get past the east end of the I-74 concurrency, there would be I-465, I-69, US 31, US 36, US 40, US 52, US 421, IN 37, IN 67 on the 1 1/2 mile long stretch between the US 52 and US 40 interchanges. Think that's the most amount of routes concurrent on I-465.

IN-37 will be decommissioned between Bloomington and Fishers, correct?

I believe that is the plan.

[SkyPesos]

For those not familiar with the Dixie Highway, it was one of the first interstate road systems in the United States, connecting the upper Midwest to the South, particularly the state of Florida. It was not a single road, but a network, with eastern and western branches, and connector roads between the two. The western branch of the Highway went through Indiana, passing through Indianapolis, and thence south through Martinsville, Bloomington, Bedford and Paoli, where it shifted southeast to continue on to Louisville.

This is new to me. I didn’t know that the Dixie Highway was a network of roads, and went through Indiana. Thought it was a single road from Florida to Michigan that is roughly paralleled by I-75 today.

[ITB]

Here's a another map of the Dixie Highway in Indiana:


Dixie Highway road conditions and Midwest map (Vol. 11, No. 4; April 1925)

From the Michigan state line to New Albany, IN, near the Ohio River: 286.3 miles, of which 124.9 miles were pavement and 161.4 miles gravel. Ouch! And the wear and tear on the tires. Indeed, the way it was in 1925. 

[silverback1065]

Apologies, as I'm positive this has been asked, but how will INDOT route 69 through Indy?

It's widely speculated that I-69 will follow the south and east legs of I-465 around Indy, but INDOT has not yet made an official announcement of the route I-69 will take through/around Indy.

https://www.i69finishline.com/frequently-asked-questions/

Between its north and south junctions with I-465, I-69 will run concurrent with the southeast leg of I-465. I-69 mile markers and exit numbers resume at 200 starting at the north junction with I-465 in Castleton.

Okay, well that's new. So I would take that as official word from INDOT that I-69 will be routed over the south and east legs of I-465.

Wow! That will be quite the multiplex.  You'll have Interstate 465,74,69; US 36,40 ; IN 37.

Once you get past the east end of the I-74 concurrency, there would be I-465, I-69, US 31, US 36, US 40, US 52, US 421, IN 37, IN 67 on the 1 1/2 mile long stretch between the US 52 and US 40 interchanges. Think that's the most amount of routes concurrent on I-465.

IN-37 will be decommissioned between Bloomington and Fishers, correct?

Yes that appears to be so, 37 is missing from the sign plans.