More US 31 upgrades between Indy and South Bend

[NWI_Irish96]

After reading the Nov 30 Tipton Tribune article, I want to share a few added points about the SR 28 decommission & SR 19 re-routing & US 31 impacts.
"INDOT will install all truck route signage along Ind 19, Ind 28, US 31 and at necessary intersections directing all through trucks to utilize Division Road."
INDOT will upgrade the signals at the junction of 28 & 19 on the eastern edge of Tipton to provide left turning operations.
INDOT was planning a major Jefferson St upgrade to accommodate the growing heavy truck traffic on SR 28. This project will become null now. 
INDOT improvements to Park Road and Ash St to alter the current city - county streets to new SR 19 state highway standards in an urban roadway design standard with a 26' curbed roadway.
Increased truck traffic on Division Road increases the chance for a US 31 & Division Road interchange.

I'm just following up to see if any new signage has been installed. Whenever that happens, please post it here so I can let the travelmapping admins know to make the appropriate changes on their site.

[Great Lakes Roads]

I found this interesting in the latest STIP for US 31 at Division Road: Mobility ROW for $2 million for this year and access control to go into mobility construction in 2024 for $17 million. Does that mean that there will be a full interchange with a bridge? 

Also, they are currently working on the bridge column in the median just south of the 236th Street intersection. Work on that intersection should be in full effect sometime next month!

[silverback1065]

After reading the Nov 30 Tipton Tribune article, I want to share a few added points about the SR 28 decommission & SR 19 re-routing & US 31 impacts.
"INDOT will install all truck route signage along Ind 19, Ind 28, US 31 and at necessary intersections directing all through trucks to utilize Division Road."
INDOT will upgrade the signals at the junction of 28 & 19 on the eastern edge of Tipton to provide left turning operations.
INDOT was planning a major Jefferson St upgrade to accommodate the growing heavy truck traffic on SR 28. This project will become null now. 
INDOT improvements to Park Road and Ash St to alter the current city - county streets to new SR 19 state highway standards in an urban roadway design standard with a 26' curbed roadway.
Increased truck traffic on Division Road increases the chance for a US 31 & Division Road interchange.

I'm just following up to see if any new signage has been installed. Whenever that happens, please post it here so I can let the travelmapping admins know to make the appropriate changes on their site.

i'll drive up and check it out this weekend.

[monty]

US 31 Bridge Work over the NSRR in Tipton County is about to commence. According to INDOT releases to Tipton officials, Division Road will be RIRO only for the next 621 days.

[silverback1065]

US 31 Bridge Work over the NSRR in Tipton County is about to commence. According to INDOT releases to Tipton officials, Division Road will be RIRO only for the next 621 days.

only

[SignGeniusPTOE]

Meanwhile, US 30 between the Chicago metro and Fort Wayne gets nothing.

[abqtraveler]

Meanwhile, US 30 between the Chicago metro and Fort Wayne gets nothing.

INDOT deliberately avoids making significant upgrades to US-30 so it doesn't become a route for truckers to shunpike the Toll Road.

[NWI_Irish96]

Meanwhile, US 30 between the Chicago metro and Fort Wayne gets nothing.

INDOT deliberately avoids making significant upgrades to US-30 so it doesn't become a route for truckers to shunpike the Toll Road.

INDOT doesn't operate the ITR so they wouldn't care.

[I-55]

Meanwhile, US 30 between the Chicago metro and Fort Wayne gets nothing.

INDOT deliberately avoids making significant upgrades to US-30 so it doesn't become a route for truckers to shunpike the Toll Road.

INDOT doesn't operate the ITR so they wouldn't care.

And based off the number of trucks we get it basically is already a shunpike route, just a more deadly one.

[silverback1065]

they are doing a study of 30 for possible upgrades.

[I-55]

they are doing a study of 30 for possible upgrades.

I attended the INDOT open house for the interchange project near Sweetwater and the new Amazon center. Based off what they wanted to do near that area (bunch of RIROs) the general tone was that they didn't want to make any serious upgrades beyond what was necessary at the time (eliminating the traffic light at Kroemer). I feel like I've been hearing about US-30 studies for years and nothing's ever really come out of it.

[abqtraveler]

Meanwhile, US 30 between the Chicago metro and Fort Wayne gets nothing.

INDOT deliberately avoids making significant upgrades to US-30 so it doesn't become a route for truckers to shunpike the Toll Road.

INDOT doesn't operate the ITR so they wouldn't care.

Actually, INDOT would care since they are using the ITR as their cash cow for other road projects around the state. Additionally, there's a clause in the ITR lease agreement that bars INDOT from constructing a parallel route within a certain distance of the ITR. Upgrading US-30 to either freeway or to expressway with no traffic lights, may put INDOT in violation of that clause in the lease agreement.

[NWI_Irish96]

Meanwhile, US 30 between the Chicago metro and Fort Wayne gets nothing.

INDOT deliberately avoids making significant upgrades to US-30 so it doesn't become a route for truckers to shunpike the Toll Road.

INDOT doesn't operate the ITR so they wouldn't care.

Actually, INDOT would care since they are using the ITR as their cash cow for other road projects around the state. Additionally, there's a clause in the ITR lease agreement that bars INDOT from constructing a parallel route within a certain distance of the ITR. Upgrading US-30 to either freeway or to expressway with no traffic lights, may put INDOT in violation of that clause in the lease agreement.

INDOT got the money up front. There is no benefit to INDOT if more people use the ITR. I don't know the exact distance on the freeway ban, but whatever it is US 30 has to be outside that range east of Plymouth at the very least.

[dvferyance]

Meanwhile, US 30 between the Chicago metro and Fort Wayne gets nothing.

Why should it? Ever heard of something called the toll road?

[sprjus4]

Meanwhile, US 30 between the Chicago metro and Fort Wayne gets nothing.

Why should it? Ever heard of something called the toll road?

That would add over 30 minutes and 40 miles to a trip to Fort Wayne from Chicago.

The toll road is irrelevant in that context.

[SignGeniusPTOE]

Meanwhile, US 30 between the Chicago metro and Fort Wayne gets nothing.

Why should it? Ever heard of something called the toll road?

Why was US 31 upgraded? Simply use I-65 and the Toll Road to go from Indy to South Bend.

[The Ghostbuster]

US 31 is the direct route from Indianapolis to South Bend. Interstate 65 is more for Chicago-bound traffic. Some want to make the US 31 Indianapolis-to-South Bend Corridor Interstate 67, but I digress.

[sprjus4]

US 31 is the direct route from Indianapolis to South Bend. Interstate 65 is more for Chicago-bound traffic. Some want to make the US 31 Indianapolis-to-South Bend Corridor Interstate 67, but I digress.

It was sarcasm.

[I-55]

US 31 is the direct route from Indianapolis to South Bend. Interstate 65 is more for Chicago-bound traffic. Some want to make the US 31 Indianapolis-to-South Bend Corridor Interstate 67, but I digress.

It was sarcasm.

With such a low post count he's gonna get the Angelo treatment.

[dvferyance]

US 31 is the direct route from Indianapolis to South Bend. Interstate 65 is more for Chicago-bound traffic. Some want to make the US 31 Indianapolis-to-South Bend Corridor Interstate 67, but I digress.

Then what would be a better corridor for a futire I-67? I think it makes sense it connects Indianapolis with South Bend and Grand Rapids. Although I will agree it will be awhile before it will all be freeway.

[monty]

INDOT to begin removing homes with driveways that access US 31 in Miami County: https://www.kokomotribune.com/news/indot-to-demolish-homes-along-us-31-in-miami-co/article_17f94016-c585-11ec-b094-c7a6b2192c61.html?utm_campaign=blox&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&fbclid=IwAR3iuQHoNozDFyzVsPke24sTlnTaAyyeCgcUIQB-ehR8khhe9jmxFasX0Ug

[JREwing78]

INDOT to begin removing homes with driveways that access US 31 in Miami County: https://www.kokomotribune.com/news/indot-to-demolish-homes-along-us-31-in-miami-co/article_17f94016-c585-11ec-b094-c7a6b2192c61.html?utm_campaign=blox&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&fbclid=IwAR3iuQHoNozDFyzVsPke24sTlnTaAyyeCgcUIQB-ehR8khhe9jmxFasX0Ug

That should be a standing policy of INDOT along all of the sections of US-31 north of Indianapolis that have properties with driveway access.

In lieu of having the funds to remove driveway access entirely, INDOT should take advantage of every opportunity it gets to have property owners give up that access voluntarily. The more they can get done now, the safer US-31 becomes and the cheaper it will be to go fully limited-access later.

They should have a similar policy along US-30 and IN-63/US-41 where these roads are not fully limited access.

[NWI_Irish96]

INDOT to begin removing homes with driveways that access US 31 in Miami County: https://www.kokomotribune.com/news/indot-to-demolish-homes-along-us-31-in-miami-co/article_17f94016-c585-11ec-b094-c7a6b2192c61.html?utm_campaign=blox&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&fbclid=IwAR3iuQHoNozDFyzVsPke24sTlnTaAyyeCgcUIQB-ehR8khhe9jmxFasX0Ug

That should be a standing policy of INDOT along all of the sections of US-31 north of Indianapolis that have properties with driveway access.

In lieu of having the funds to remove driveway access entirely, INDOT should take advantage of every opportunity it gets to have property owners give up that access voluntarily. The more they can get done now, the safer US-31 becomes and the cheaper it will be to go fully limited-access later.

They should have a similar policy along US-30 and IN-63/US-41 where these roads are not fully limited access.

US 30 is almost entirely a different road than the Old Lincoln Highway where homes were built. There are very few homes on it. Off the top of my head, I can't even think of one.

63/41 just doesn't have the traffic volumes to justify this.

[hbelkins]

US 31 between Indy and South Bend is fine as it is and doesn't need any "upgrades." It serves traffic just fine without the need to be a full freeway.

[NWI_Irish96]

US 31 between Indy and South Bend is fine as it is and doesn't need any "upgrades." It serves traffic just fine without the need to be a full freeway.

The section from Plymouth to Peru is fine as is. South of Peru, it does need at least the upgrades that are currently slated and a full freeway would not be unwarranted.