Indiana Notes

[JoePCool14]

If only INDOT would just stop doing these cheap overlays. Or at least not do them when the contents or design of the sign is changing significantly like with the I-469 example.

I'd also like them to replace the old tiny exit tabs with ones with proper vertical spacing on the legend.

[thefarmerchris]

i find that when signs are refaced, they always have these weird massive gaps.  not sure why, maybe they aren't following the plans?

The worst I've seen is on I-469.  It was forgivable when they removed US 24 from the sign and it left extra space.  It is not forgivable that the refacing job moved the I-69 shield even further up on the sign away from other legend.  (This is a clear example of where new sign panels are really called for.)
https://goo.gl/maps/8L7MUb4AbtAEbQYG8

this one would make you angrier  https://www.google.com/maps/@40.992372,-85.2681015,3a,15y,113.62h,99.54t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s0IInfY-N0FLEgM2NBGiHIw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

i did notice this sign is wrong: https://www.google.com/maps/@40.9568315,-85.2942839,3a,75y,31.33h,85.67t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sdN3OjEcD4bGsIJyl27ISYQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192 US 24 doesn't travel down here anymore.

I'm utterly shocked INDOT even replaces signs up in Fort Wayne. Most of them are so in need of replacement and/or not consistent.

[jhuntin1]

INDOT renamed the "Greenwood" exit on I-65 (Exit 99) to "Main St" last week. Worthsville Rd. also serves Greenwood, so that may be the reason for the change. They overlaid a long green panel on the original signs, so there is lots of bright green space on the sides that show over the older signs. I don't know if we'll ever see a Greenwood - Next 2 Exits (could be 3 if they count County Line Rd.).

[Great Lakes Roads]

Looks like INDOT is testing orange lines in their construction zones, as seen here on I-65 near Sellersburg: https://www.google.com/maps/@38.3836229,-85.7596501,3a,15y,347.52h,86.67t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sB6pi1sAS2EV8038-oD50CQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

EDIT: Also found the ITR testing orange lines on one of their bridge painting projects back in June 2022: https://www.google.com/maps/@41.7223561,-86.2698136,3a,75y,82.53h,86.84t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sFpHwRpkUgpJRMOilCyiBiA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

[Ted$8roadFan]

i find that when signs are refaced, they always have these weird massive gaps.  not sure why, maybe they aren't following the plans?

The worst I've seen is on I-469.  It was forgivable when they removed US 24 from the sign and it left extra space.  It is not forgivable that the refacing job moved the I-69 shield even further up on the sign away from other legend.  (This is a clear example of where new sign panels are really called for.)
https://goo.gl/maps/8L7MUb4AbtAEbQYG8

this one would make you angrier  https://www.google.com/maps/@40.992372,-85.2681015,3a,15y,113.62h,99.54t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s0IInfY-N0FLEgM2NBGiHIw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

i did notice this sign is wrong: https://www.google.com/maps/@40.9568315,-85.2942839,3a,75y,31.33h,85.67t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sdN3OjEcD4bGsIJyl27ISYQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192 US 24 doesn't travel down here anymore.

I'm utterly shocked INDOT even replaces signs up in Fort Wayne. Most of them are so in need of replacement and/or not consistent.

When I first drove through Fort Wayne years ago, I always wondered why the state never seemed to use controlcities on I-469 (e.g. US 24 East - Toledo). Guess some things haven't changed.

[hobsini2]

i find that when signs are refaced, they always have these weird massive gaps.  not sure why, maybe they aren't following the plans?

The worst I've seen is on I-469.  It was forgivable when they removed US 24 from the sign and it left extra space.  It is not forgivable that the refacing job moved the I-69 shield even further up on the sign away from other legend.  (This is a clear example of where new sign panels are really called for.)
https://goo.gl/maps/8L7MUb4AbtAEbQYG8

this one would make you angrier  https://www.google.com/maps/@40.992372,-85.2681015,3a,15y,113.62h,99.54t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s0IInfY-N0FLEgM2NBGiHIw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

i did notice this sign is wrong: https://www.google.com/maps/@40.9568315,-85.2942839,3a,75y,31.33h,85.67t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sdN3OjEcD4bGsIJyl27ISYQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192 US 24 doesn't travel down here anymore.

PurdueBill, it would have been better if INDOT had centered the 69 shield.
Silverback, I think that greenspace may be for if and when they move US 27 onto I-69 instead of going through Ft Wayne.

[I-55]

i find that when signs are refaced, they always have these weird massive gaps.  not sure why, maybe they aren't following the plans?

The worst I've seen is on I-469.  It was forgivable when they removed US 24 from the sign and it left extra space.  It is not forgivable that the refacing job moved the I-69 shield even further up on the sign away from other legend.  (This is a clear example of where new sign panels are really called for.)
https://goo.gl/maps/8L7MUb4AbtAEbQYG8

this one would make you angrier  https://www.google.com/maps/@40.992372,-85.2681015,3a,15y,113.62h,99.54t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s0IInfY-N0FLEgM2NBGiHIw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

i did notice this sign is wrong: https://www.google.com/maps/@40.9568315,-85.2942839,3a,75y,31.33h,85.67t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sdN3OjEcD4bGsIJyl27ISYQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192 US 24 doesn't travel down here anymore.

PurdueBill, it would have been better if INDOT had centered the 69 shield.
Silverback, I think that greenspace may be for if and when they move US 27 onto I-69 instead of going through Ft Wayne.

If US 27 ever got removed thru FW it would probably just be truncated to 469. INDOT would love to hand over 27 to Fort Wayne but the city can't afford to maintain it right now and hasn't assumed control.

[silverback1065]

i find that when signs are refaced, they always have these weird massive gaps.  not sure why, maybe they aren't following the plans?

The worst I've seen is on I-469.  It was forgivable when they removed US 24 from the sign and it left extra space.  It is not forgivable that the refacing job moved the I-69 shield even further up on the sign away from other legend.  (This is a clear example of where new sign panels are really called for.)
https://goo.gl/maps/8L7MUb4AbtAEbQYG8

this one would make you angrier  https://www.google.com/maps/@40.992372,-85.2681015,3a,15y,113.62h,99.54t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s0IInfY-N0FLEgM2NBGiHIw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

i did notice this sign is wrong: https://www.google.com/maps/@40.9568315,-85.2942839,3a,75y,31.33h,85.67t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sdN3OjEcD4bGsIJyl27ISYQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192 US 24 doesn't travel down here anymore.

PurdueBill, it would have been better if INDOT had centered the 69 shield.
Silverback, I think that greenspace may be for if and when they move US 27 onto I-69 instead of going through Ft Wayne.

If US 27 ever got removed thru FW it would probably just be truncated to 469. INDOT would love to hand over 27 to Fort Wayne but the city can't afford to maintain it right now and hasn't assumed control.

27 will never do that. they would just end it at 469.

[silverback1065]

Looks like INDOT is testing orange stripes in their construction zones, as seen here on I-65 near Sellersburg: https://www.google.com/maps/@38.3836229,-85.7596501,3a,15y,347.52h,86.67t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sB6pi1sAS2EV8038-oD50CQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

they are also on 65 just south of us 52. very noticeable i like them. 

[PurdueBill]

i find that when signs are refaced, they always have these weird massive gaps.  not sure why, maybe they aren't following the plans?

The worst I've seen is on I-469.  It was forgivable when they removed US 24 from the sign and it left extra space.  It is not forgivable that the refacing job moved the I-69 shield even further up on the sign away from other legend.  (This is a clear example of where new sign panels are really called for.)
https://goo.gl/maps/8L7MUb4AbtAEbQYG8

this one would make you angrier  https://www.google.com/maps/@40.992372,-85.2681015,3a,15y,113.62h,99.54t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s0IInfY-N0FLEgM2NBGiHIw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

i did notice this sign is wrong: https://www.google.com/maps/@40.9568315,-85.2942839,3a,75y,31.33h,85.67t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sdN3OjEcD4bGsIJyl27ISYQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192 US 24 doesn't travel down here anymore.

PurdueBill, it would have been better if INDOT had centered the 69 shield.
Silverback, I think that greenspace may be for if and when they move US 27 onto I-69 instead of going through Ft Wayne.

On both signs, it is leftover space from when US 24 was moved from going around the south end of 469 to going around the north end (which is silly now that 900N/Laf. Ctr. Rd. is widened; 24 probably should have been routed onto that).  There are/were vestiges of 27 appearing on BGSs around Fort Wayne north of where it was eliminated, but these are not those.

The same goof of 24 WEST appearing with 69 NORTH as at Lower Huntington Road appears on the ramp from Laf. Ctr. Rd. EB to 69, but only at the ramp split.

The 69 shield was never centered--it is INDOT's thing to line the shields up vertically usually.  If you go to older street view of the sign at Exit 0, you can see how the three shields lined up above each other.
https://goo.gl/maps/kNrSZcspRtyQdu2a6

[tdindy88]

INDOT renamed the "Greenwood" exit on I-65 (Exit 99) to "Main St" last week. Worthsville Rd. also serves Greenwood, so that may be the reason for the change. They overlaid a long green panel on the original signs, so there is lots of bright green space on the sides that show over the older signs. I don't know if we'll ever see a Greenwood - Next 2 Exits (could be 3 if they count County Line Rd.).

That's some major OCD-ing going on with INDOT. I bet having Greenwood signed on Exit 99 wasn't a problem until the Worthsville Road exit was built. Until then, street names were used to Exit 101 (County Line Road) and then community names were used south from there in Johnson County. But once Exit 97 was built there was an imbalance. Exit 103 (street name,) Exit 101 (street name,) Exit 99 (city name!) Exit 97 (street name) and then Exit 95 (city name.) Well we can't have that, the line must be drawn somewhere and now it has to be between Exits 95 and 97. At least Main Street in Greenwood is known as Main Street, but I do hope some sign is put up acknowledging the existance of a city of over 55,000 in northern Johnson County.

Speaking of shifting road signs I was on I-74 heading to Brownsburg last week when I passed Exit 68 which is signed for the Ronald Reagan Parkway. I remember that when this exit was first built it was signed for Ronald Reagan Parkway and then later on they changed it for Clermont and Bronwsburg. And now it's back to Ronald Reagan Parkway.

[I-55]

i find that when signs are refaced, they always have these weird massive gaps.  not sure why, maybe they aren't following the plans?

The worst I've seen is on I-469.  It was forgivable when they removed US 24 from the sign and it left extra space.  It is not forgivable that the refacing job moved the I-69 shield even further up on the sign away from other legend.  (This is a clear example of where new sign panels are really called for.)
https://goo.gl/maps/8L7MUb4AbtAEbQYG8

this one would make you angrier  https://www.google.com/maps/@40.992372,-85.2681015,3a,15y,113.62h,99.54t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s0IInfY-N0FLEgM2NBGiHIw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

i did notice this sign is wrong: https://www.google.com/maps/@40.9568315,-85.2942839,3a,75y,31.33h,85.67t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sdN3OjEcD4bGsIJyl27ISYQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192 US 24 doesn't travel down here anymore.

PurdueBill, it would have been better if INDOT had centered the 69 shield.
Silverback, I think that greenspace may be for if and when they move US 27 onto I-69 instead of going through Ft Wayne.

If US 27 ever got removed thru FW it would probably just be truncated to 469. INDOT would love to hand over 27 to Fort Wayne but the city can't afford to maintain it right now and hasn't assumed control.

27 will never do that. they would just end it at 469.

If INDOT turns 27 over to the city it would be decommissioned wherever INDOT surrenders maintenance responsibilities.

[nwi_navigator_1181]

A couple of local notes to bring to attention:

The ramp connecting Ridge Road to I-65 south will close starting this week, lasting through September. This will be on top of the other Ridge Road closures already in place, as well as inaccessibility from 61st Avenue in both directions. The detour, believe it or not, requires drivers to drive south on Broadway all the way to US 231 to access I-65 southbound.

The City of Hobart is planning to convert the Canadian National railroad crossing at Colorado Street - near 69th Avenue - into an overpass. This will require a complete closure of the road, likely to start before the end of the year and lasting 12-18 months. The plan is to shift the road 75 feet to the west to tie it into the recently completed roundabout at 69th Avenue, while providing a multi-use lane on top of the two driving lanes. The railroad crossing is known to cause massive backups due to high train traffic, including the high likelihood of stopped trains due to switching into the nearby siding. This will be a massive step toward alleviating that.

When completed, this will be the second major road in the Merrillville-Hobart area to have a bridge over the CN railroad, providing easy travel between US 30 and 61st Avenue and a viable alternative to I-65 and Indiana 51 for local commuting. The current overpass carrying Mississippi Street was opened in 2004. During the closure, that overpass, along with 61st and 69th Avenue, will serve as the detour route once the closure starts.

[silverback1065]

A couple of local notes to bring to attention:

The ramp connecting Ridge Road to I-65 south will close starting this week, lasting through September. This will be on top of the other Ridge Road closures already in place, as well as inaccessibility from 61st Avenue in both directions. The detour, believe it or not, requires drivers to drive south on Broadway all the way to US 231 to access I-65 southbound.

The City of Hobart is planning to convert the Canadian National railroad crossing at Colorado Street - near 69th Avenue - into an overpass. This will require a complete closure of the road, likely to start before the end of the year and lasting 12-18 months. The plan is to shift the road 75 feet to the west to tie it into the recently completed roundabout at 69th Avenue, while providing a multi-use lane on top of the two driving lanes. The railroad crossing is known to cause massive backups due to high train traffic, including the high likelihood of stopped trains due to switching into the nearby siding. This will be a massive step toward alleviating that.

When completed, this will be the second major road in the Merrillville-Hobart area to have a bridge over the CN railroad, providing easy travel between US 30 and 61st Avenue and a viable alternative to I-65 and Indiana 51 for local commuting. The current overpass carrying Mississippi Street was opened in 2004. During the closure, that overpass, along with 61st and 69th Avenue, will serve as the detour route once the closure starts.

what are they doing to the ridge road ramp?

[nwi_navigator_1181]

what are they doing to the ridge road ramp?

Concrete restoration work. Same thing they're doing to the mainline, along with restoration of the barrier separating the Ridge Road C/D ramps from I-65.

[pianocello]

The ramp connecting Ridge Road to I-65 south will close starting this week, lasting through September. This will be on top of the other Ridge Road closures already in place, as well as inaccessibility from 61st Avenue in both directions. The detour, believe it or not, requires drivers to drive south on Broadway all the way to US 231 to access I-65 southbound.

I get that INDOT made this detour because they don't want to "officially" add more traffic onto US 30, but that's what's going to end up happening. Brace yourselves, this one's gonna be a mess while those two on-ramps are closed.

People could go from Ridge Rd up to I-80/94, but during certain parts of the day that's not much better.

[NWI_Irish96]

https://www.lakeshorepublicradio.org/2022-08-11/latest-raise-grants-include-17-million-for-ridge-road-complete-streets-project

So this project doesn't involve a state highway, but I thought I'd note it here anyway. Munster received a $17 million RAISE grant to complete a complete redesign of Ridge road from Columbia Ave west to the state line.

Ridge Road is the main east-west thoroughfare through Munster, and carried US before it was rerouted onto I-80/94. It is currently a four lane main arterial with a continuous left turn lane. Ridge Road is the source of a high number of traffic accidents.

The project will reduce the road to a two lane road with a median and intermittent left turn lanes, adding bike lanes, wider sidewalks and outdoor seating areas for restaurants.

This project coincides with the Westlake extension of the South Shore passenger rail line, which will have a station at Ridge/Manor. The goal is to create a walkable district surrounding the station for both the residents of the higher-density residential area and also those commuting to/from the South Shore Station.

[silverback1065]

https://www.lakeshorepublicradio.org/2022-08-11/latest-raise-grants-include-17-million-for-ridge-road-complete-streets-project

So this project doesn't involve a state highway, but I thought I'd note it here anyway. Munster received a $17 million RAISE grant to complete a complete redesign of Ridge road from Columbia Ave west to the state line.

Ridge Road is the main east-west thoroughfare through Munster, and carried US before it was rerouted onto I-80/94. It is currently a four lane main arterial with a continuous left turn lane. Ridge Road is the source of a high number of traffic accidents.

The project will reduce the road to a two lane road with a median and intermittent left turn lanes, adding bike lanes, wider sidewalks and outdoor seating areas for restaurants.

This project coincides with the Westlake extension of the South Shore passenger rail line, which will have a station at Ridge/Manor. The goal is to create a walkable district surrounding the station for both the residents of the higher-density residential area and also those commuting to/from the South Shore Station.

very cool. that will make the corridor much nicer for the area.

[nwi_navigator_1181]

Major Heads Up:

For the next few weeks up to the end of September, ALL entrances to I-65 southbound between US 12/20 and US 30 will be closed, the exceptions being the entrances from I-90 and I-80/94.

This is done in an effort to lighten traffic counts in advance of the current work zone between I-80/94 and US 30. When the project advances far enough to realign southbound traffic to the original lane configuration, the ramps will reopen.

The detour, as stated above, asks from traffic to use Indiana 53 (Broadway) from US 12/20 to US 231. If you're a local and not a trucker, there are MUCH better alternatives (Indiana 51 to I-80/94 west, for example).

[US 41]

https://www.tribstar.com/news/local_news/indot-presents-plans-for-north-clinton-street-redo/article_f40e61db-0906-59e5-b3cd-fb26f13d8e90.html

https://www.in.gov/indot/files/Des-1500146-US-41-Design-Plans.pdf

Here's a plan sheet on the bridge removal on Clinton Street (OLD US 41) north of Terre Haute. J-Turns will be installed at the intersection with Quinn Avenue, and RIRO will be on NB US 41.

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.5688543,-87.3707612,3a,75y,52.13h,90t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1scxJe0rSx0G2BASwJ8pvnSA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Thanks for sharing. I live only a few miles from there and was wondering what they were going to do. I'm just glad it won't involve a stop light. I'd prefer that they just rebuild the bridge, stick a caution light up at Evans, and maybe lower the speed limit to 40 or 45 through there, but it is what it is.

[ITB]

There was a tragic incident Saturday, September 3, 2022, on State Road 32 in Hamilton County near Noblesville where a bridge replacement project was underway. It happened just after midnight when a car, apparently traveling at a high rate of speed, plowed through a "road closed" sign that blocked the road. It then went airborne where the bridge over Stony Creek had been removed and crashed into the western abutment. A man and his four-year-old son died.

https://www.wrtv.com/news/public-safety/father-4-year-old-son-die-in-fiery-crash-after-plummeting-into-creek-in-hamilton-county

[monty]

SR 37 in Fishers - new interchanges open: https://www.wishtv.com/news/local-news/fishers-celebrates-opening-of-146th-and-131st-street-interchanges/

[NWI_Irish96]

I drove US 20 east of Elkhart for the first time in a long time Sunday. It was previously widened to 4 lanes from CR 17 to SR 15. It's now being widened from SR 15 to CR 35. Grading work looks to be nearly complete. According to INDOT's website https://www.in.gov/indot/about-indot/central-office/welcome-to-the-fort-wayne-district/us-20-added-travel-lanes-in-elkhart-county/, construction should be fully complete in 2024.

This is helpful as US 20 sees a lot of shunpiking truck traffic.

[silverback1065]

SR 37 in Fishers - new interchanges open: https://www.wishtv.com/news/local-news/fishers-celebrates-opening-of-146th-and-131st-street-interchanges/

and the project is done for now. 1 signal will remain at 141st for the foreseeable future. 

[cjw2001]

Just discovered that the state of Indiana has reconfigured the merge from the I 465 ramps to US 31 on the north side of Indianapolis to have two dedicated lanes from the I 465 ramps onto US 31.   Traffic from Meridian street now has to merge down to a single lane to make room for the new configuration.    This should help with the daily backups of traffic on these ramps (not to mention the semi truck that maliciously tried to run me over under the old configuration when merging last week).