Update on I-69 Extension in Indiana

[ITB]

^ I think signage plans indicated 70 mph through Martinsville, with 65 mph closer to I-465.

Bloomington's 55 mph is a joke.

Yup, the 55 mph speed limit in Bloomington is almost a tailor-made speed trap. Unfortunately, a good number of drivers motoring both northbound and southbound at 70 to 80 smack into the 55 mph zone without realizing it. I see it all the time, as they whiz by me. At a minimum it should be 60, better yet 65.

[abqtraveler]

^ I think signage plans indicated 70 mph through Martinsville, with 65 mph closer to I-465.

Bloomington's 55 mph is a joke.

Yup, the 55 mph speed limit in Bloomington is almost a tailor-made speed trap. Unfortunately, a good number of drivers motoring both northbound and southbound at 70 to 80 smack into the 55 mph zone without realizing it. I see it all the time, as they whiz by me. At a minimum it should be 60, better yet 65.

That was probably one of the concessions that INDOT made to Blooming-tucky to get them onboard with building I-69 through their city. Opposition from Bloomington has always been a thorn in INDOT's side for getting I-69 finished, so you sweeten the pot by providing the local cops an opportunity to generate some revenue for the city.

[edwaleni]

^ I think signage plans indicated 70 mph through Martinsville, with 65 mph closer to I-465.

Bloomington's 55 mph is a joke.

Yup, the 55 mph speed limit in Bloomington is almost a tailor-made speed trap. Unfortunately, a good number of drivers motoring both northbound and southbound at 70 to 80 smack into the 55 mph zone without realizing it. I see it all the time, as they whiz by me. At a minimum it should be 60, better yet 65.

That was probably one of the concessions that INDOT made to Blooming-tucky to get them onboard with building I-69 through their city. Opposition from Bloomington has always been a thorn in INDOT's side for getting I-69 finished, so you sweeten the pot by providing the local cops an opportunity to generate some revenue for the city.

According to the IIHS website, Indiana state law for the "urban interstates" speed limit is 55mph.

Since states set the speed limits, I don't know the parameters INDOT used, but typically most interstates traveling through the city limits of an area 100,000 or more in population reduce the speed limit.

I have found that application of the "urban interstate rule" to be highly variable.

[ibthebigd]

Lexington Kentucky is 70 MPH which always baffles me

SM-G950U

[silverback1065]

^ I think signage plans indicated 70 mph through Martinsville, with 65 mph closer to I-465.

Bloomington's 55 mph is a joke.

Yup, the 55 mph speed limit in Bloomington is almost a tailor-made speed trap. Unfortunately, a good number of drivers motoring both northbound and southbound at 70 to 80 smack into the 55 mph zone without realizing it. I see it all the time, as they whiz by me. At a minimum it should be 60, better yet 65.

That was probably one of the concessions that INDOT made to Blooming-tucky to get them onboard with building I-69 through their city. Opposition from Bloomington has always been a thorn in INDOT's side for getting I-69 finished, so you sweeten the pot by providing the local cops an opportunity to generate some revenue for the city.

According to the IIHS website, Indiana state law for the "urban interstates" speed limit is 55mph.

Since states set the speed limits, I don't know the parameters INDOT used, but typically most interstates traveling through the city limits of an area 100,000 or more in population reduce the speed limit.

I have found that application of the "urban interstate rule" to be highly variable.

i wish theyd change that. i bet exactly 0 of the statehouse members even follow this law when they drive 

[sprjus4]

^ Indiana urban interstates "have to be"  55 mph, yet INDOT had no problem increasing I-65 and I-265/SR-265 outside Louisville from 55 mph to 65 mph and 70 mph, despite traveling through a quite urban area, dropping to just 60 mph at the bridge now.

[Life in Paradise]

^ Indiana urban interstates "have to be"  55 mph, yet INDOT had no problem increasing I-65 and I-265/SR-265 outside Louisville from 55 mph to 65 mph and 70 mph, despite traveling through a quite urban area, dropping to just 60 mph at the bridge now.

You can say that there is a question about what is an urban area and what is not.  I-69 actually is inside of the city limits (just barely) for for Evansville, and the entire road from mile marker 1 through 10 is listed at 60 MPH.  IMHO, the area of I-64 from Georgetown to the river is just like Bloomington, 55 MPH to get local, county, and state police for speeders.  I've also seen an area police officer stationed near the IN-37/I-69 intersection on the south side of Bloomington looking for drivers who didn't slow down fast enough coming into town.  I think they do it also on the north side.

[silverback1065]

^ Indiana urban interstates "have to be"  55 mph, yet INDOT had no problem increasing I-65 and I-265/SR-265 outside Louisville from 55 mph to 65 mph and 70 mph, despite traveling through a quite urban area, dropping to just 60 mph at the bridge now.

You can say that there is a question about what is an urban area and what is not.  I-69 actually is inside of the city limits (just barely) for for Evansville, and the entire road from mile marker 1 through 10 is listed at 60 MPH.  IMHO, the area of I-64 from Georgetown to the river is just like Bloomington, 55 MPH to get local, county, and state police for speeders.  I've also seen an area police officer stationed near the IN-37/I-69 intersection on the south side of Bloomington looking for drivers who didn't slow down fast enough coming into town.  I think they do it also on the north side.

69 in hamilton co is 65 too and thats clearly urban! 

[CardInLex]

^ Indiana urban interstates "have to be"  55 mph, yet INDOT had no problem increasing I-65 and I-265/SR-265 outside Louisville from 55 mph to 65 mph and 70 mph, despite traveling through a quite urban area, dropping to just 60 mph at the bridge now.

I-65 actually goes from 65 mph to 50 mph at the bridge. That's a big change where most people are going 70+ to 50 on the bridge entering Kentucky. I know it's two jurisdictions but I wish the reduction to 50 was spread out in SoIN.

[sprjus4]

^ There's a short 60 mph stretch in Indiana before the 50 mph drop.

https://goo.gl/maps/UY93QKgUJDQmE4Nd6

[ITB]

Some more pictures. Photos were taken Saturday, November 20, 2021, unless otherwise noted.


Looking south toward the northern closure point of State Road 37 just north of Martinsville. Two more strips of concrete – maybe two and a half – remain to be paved on the southbound lanes between the point where the asphalt ends and the State Road 44 overpass to the south, a distance of roughly 4,000 feet. Likely this paving will get underway next week.


The future Teeters Road overpass, located about 300 yards north of the closure point pictured above; looking east.


Looking north from near the Teeters Road overpass work zone. On the left, work is underway on the Morgan Street extension.


Looking south from the Egbert Road overpass in Morgan County, about five miles north of Martinsville. In the background, the northbound mainline bridge over Clear Creek has recently received its deck pour and is covered with white plastic sheeting to insure proper curing. Work is likely to continue unabated in this area until the ground freezes, which might be late December or early January, or even not at all if the winter months are warmer than usual.


Slightly closer look. In the background is the temporary driveway for First United Methodist Church and the Ozark Fisheries facility.


The new northbound bridge over the dry swale; looking north from the Egbert Road overpass. Just beyond is the point where the cross-over probably will be located to shift northbound traffic to the new, reconstructed northbound lanes. From that point up to State Road 144, northbound traffic will be restricted to one travel lane. The switchover is planned for the week after Thanksgiving.


Different perspective of the dry swale bridge work zone; looking northwest. With the bridge deck finisher in place, the deck pour likely will take place sometime in the next couple of weeks.


Trio of drainage pipes just south of the northbound bridge over the dry swale; looking west. I have little idea which pipe does what, so if someone has more knowledge, please chime in.


Mid-range view showing the bridge and the drainage pipes; looking north.


Looking east from the Henderson Ford Road overpass. While not yet striped, the northbound lanes appear about ready for traffic.


The newly paved northbound entrance ramp from Henderson Ford Road. The surface course still remains to be paved, but that may be put off till spring.


Looking northwest from the Henderson Ford Road overpass. The harvest is all but complete in Indiana. Apparently, it was good year for both corn and soybeans with yields above average.


Northbound ramp to Henderson Ford Road; looking west. After northbound traffic has been switched to the new northbound lanes, work will shift to connecting the southbound entrance ramp from Henderson Ford to the southbound lanes.


Another view looking north from the Henderson Ford Road overpass.


And one more of the Teeters Road overpass; looking east.

[CardInLex]

^ There's a short 60 mph stretch in Indiana before the 50 mph drop.

https://goo.gl/maps/UY93QKgUJDQmE4Nd6

I've never noticed it and I drive it at least twice per week. Ha! Disregard previous post then.

[mukade]

69 in hamilton co is 65 too and thats clearly urban! 

Actually, the speed limit is 70 on I-69 past SR 37 in Fishers and Noblesville for a distance of 7.5-8 miles. And the population of Fishers is over 100,000 and Noblesville is 65,000.

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.9670076,-85.9957935,3a,75y,89.97h,82.15t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sljg9p-wJ4U3zzO7L6liYQw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

The guidelines seem to be pretty inconsistent.

[abqtraveler]

^ I think signage plans indicated 70 mph through Martinsville, with 65 mph closer to I-465.

Bloomington's 55 mph is a joke.

Yup, the 55 mph speed limit in Bloomington is almost a tailor-made speed trap. Unfortunately, a good number of drivers motoring both northbound and southbound at 70 to 80 smack into the 55 mph zone without realizing it. I see it all the time, as they whiz by me. At a minimum it should be 60, better yet 65.

That was probably one of the concessions that INDOT made to Blooming-tucky to get them onboard with building I-69 through their city. Opposition from Bloomington has always been a thorn in INDOT's side for getting I-69 finished, so you sweeten the pot by providing the local cops an opportunity to generate some revenue for the city.

According to the IIHS website, Indiana state law for the "urban interstates" speed limit is 55mph.

Since states set the speed limits, I don't know the parameters INDOT used, but typically most interstates traveling through the city limits of an area 100,000 or more in population reduce the speed limit.

I have found that application of the "urban interstate rule" to be highly variable.

Bloomington's population is 79,168 according to the 2020 US Census, and I-69 skirts around Bloomington, not penetrate the urban core. I still don't see any rationale for dropping the speed limit aside from creating a moneymaking opportunity for the city.

https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/bloomingtoncityindiana/PST045219

[silverback1065]

^ I think signage plans indicated 70 mph through Martinsville, with 65 mph closer to I-465.

Bloomington's 55 mph is a joke.

Yup, the 55 mph speed limit in Bloomington is almost a tailor-made speed trap. Unfortunately, a good number of drivers motoring both northbound and southbound at 70 to 80 smack into the 55 mph zone without realizing it. I see it all the time, as they whiz by me. At a minimum it should be 60, better yet 65.

That was probably one of the concessions that INDOT made to Blooming-tucky to get them onboard with building I-69 through their city. Opposition from Bloomington has always been a thorn in INDOT's side for getting I-69 finished, so you sweeten the pot by providing the local cops an opportunity to generate some revenue for the city.

According to the IIHS website, Indiana state law for the "urban interstates" speed limit is 55mph.

Since states set the speed limits, I don't know the parameters INDOT used, but typically most interstates traveling through the city limits of an area 100,000 or more in population reduce the speed limit.

I have found that application of the "urban interstate rule" to be highly variable.

Bloomington's population is 79,168 according to the 2020 US Census, and I-69 skirts around Bloomington, not penetrate the urban core. I still don't see any rationale for dropping the speed limit aside from creating a moneymaking opportunity for the city.

https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/bloomingtoncityindiana/PST045219

interesting, i didn't that they were that big! they plan on annexing a lot of monroe county too. so theyre only getting bigger.

[abqtraveler]

^ I think signage plans indicated 70 mph through Martinsville, with 65 mph closer to I-465.

Bloomington's 55 mph is a joke.

Yup, the 55 mph speed limit in Bloomington is almost a tailor-made speed trap. Unfortunately, a good number of drivers motoring both northbound and southbound at 70 to 80 smack into the 55 mph zone without realizing it. I see it all the time, as they whiz by me. At a minimum it should be 60, better yet 65.

That was probably one of the concessions that INDOT made to Blooming-tucky to get them onboard with building I-69 through their city. Opposition from Bloomington has always been a thorn in INDOT's side for getting I-69 finished, so you sweeten the pot by providing the local cops an opportunity to generate some revenue for the city.

According to the IIHS website, Indiana state law for the "urban interstates" speed limit is 55mph.

Since states set the speed limits, I don't know the parameters INDOT used, but typically most interstates traveling through the city limits of an area 100,000 or more in population reduce the speed limit.

I have found that application of the "urban interstate rule" to be highly variable.

Bloomington's population is 79,168 according to the 2020 US Census, and I-69 skirts around Bloomington, not penetrate the urban core. I still don't see any rationale for dropping the speed limit aside from creating a moneymaking opportunity for the city.

https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/bloomingtoncityindiana/PST045219

interesting, i didn't that they were that big! they plan on annexing a lot of monroe county too. so theyre only getting bigger.

Bloomington wants to be in the same club with Indy, Fort Wayne, and Evansville, but they're not there by any stretch of the imagination.

[silverback1065]

^ I think signage plans indicated 70 mph through Martinsville, with 65 mph closer to I-465.

Bloomington's 55 mph is a joke.

Yup, the 55 mph speed limit in Bloomington is almost a tailor-made speed trap. Unfortunately, a good number of drivers motoring both northbound and southbound at 70 to 80 smack into the 55 mph zone without realizing it. I see it all the time, as they whiz by me. At a minimum it should be 60, better yet 65.

That was probably one of the concessions that INDOT made to Blooming-tucky to get them onboard with building I-69 through their city. Opposition from Bloomington has always been a thorn in INDOT's side for getting I-69 finished, so you sweeten the pot by providing the local cops an opportunity to generate some revenue for the city.

According to the IIHS website, Indiana state law for the "urban interstates" speed limit is 55mph.

Since states set the speed limits, I don't know the parameters INDOT used, but typically most interstates traveling through the city limits of an area 100,000 or more in population reduce the speed limit.

I have found that application of the "urban interstate rule" to be highly variable.

Bloomington's population is 79,168 according to the 2020 US Census, and I-69 skirts around Bloomington, not penetrate the urban core. I still don't see any rationale for dropping the speed limit aside from creating a moneymaking opportunity for the city.

https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/bloomingtoncityindiana/PST045219

interesting, i didn't that they were that big! they plan on annexing a lot of monroe county too. so theyre only getting bigger.

Bloomington wants to be in the same club with Indy, Fort Wayne, and Evansville, but they're not there by any stretch of the imagination.

I've always thought of bloomington as indiana's boulder (co)

[tdindy88]

That's exactly what Bloomington is. I suppose this would make West Lafayette like Fort Collins?

A quick note on Bloomington when it came to I-69, Indiana basically forced it upon them. They threatened to withhold any funds for future planning projects (and I believe transportation projects as well, like bike stuff) unless the city's planning organization recognized I-69 on their plans. So I don't think there was much of a choice to get them "on-board" in the end. The speed trap is probably just payback for having to deal with having the interstate.

[NWI_Irish96]

That's exactly what Bloomington is. I suppose this would make West Lafayette like Fort Collins?

Colorado and Colorado State aren't really on equal footing in the way that Purdue and Indiana are, so I wouldn't really compare West Lafayette to Fort Collins, but I think the Bloomington-Boulder comparison is spot on. Ann Arbor and Madison are very similar as well.

[FixThe74Sign]

That's exactly what Bloomington is. I suppose this would make West Lafayette like Fort Collins?

A quick note on Bloomington when it came to I-69, Indiana basically forced it upon them. They threatened to withhold any funds for future planning projects (and I believe transportation projects as well, like bike stuff) unless the city's planning organization recognized I-69 on their plans. So I don't think there was much of a choice to get them "on-board" in the end. The speed trap is probably just payback for having to deal with having the interstate.

Wasn't most of SR37 through Bloomington already built to interstate standards or close to it? I don't see how it was "thrust upon then" when the roadway hadn't changed much.

[silverback1065]

That's exactly what Bloomington is. I suppose this would make West Lafayette like Fort Collins?

A quick note on Bloomington when it came to I-69, Indiana basically forced it upon them. They threatened to withhold any funds for future planning projects (and I believe transportation projects as well, like bike stuff) unless the city's planning organization recognized I-69 on their plans. So I don't think there was much of a choice to get them "on-board" in the end. The speed trap is probably just payback for having to deal with having the interstate.

Wasn't most of SR37 through Bloomington already built to interstate standards or close to it? I don't see how it was "thrust upon then" when the roadway hadn't changed much.

nah there were still a few signals along the route and it wasnt completely limited access in terms of driveway cuts.

[andy]

That's exactly what Bloomington is. I suppose this would make West Lafayette like Fort Collins?

A quick note on Bloomington when it came to I-69, Indiana basically forced it upon them. They threatened to withhold any funds for future planning projects (and I believe transportation projects as well, like bike stuff) unless the city's planning organization recognized I-69 on their plans. So I don't think there was much of a choice to get them "on-board" in the end. The speed trap is probably just payback for having to deal with having the interstate.

Wasn't most of SR37 through Bloomington already built to interstate standards or close to it? I don't see how it was "thrust upon then" when the roadway hadn't changed much.

nah there were still a few signals along the route and it wasnt completely limited access in terms of driveway cuts.

To be fair there was new terrain construction south and west of Bloomington that drew a lot of the criticism by a vocal minority. Most anyone I talked to quietly supported the construction and are unhappy with the 55 MPH limit.

[edwaleni]

Speed limits aren't always set by their "urban" quality but also on the local conditions.

There is a large degree of retail along IN-37/I-69 in the Bloomington metro, which creates a large amount of "on-off" traffic.

Traffic planners may have reduced the speed limit to reduce the crash rate due to a large amount of merging traffic.

The AADT of those intersecting roads (and their exits) may have a bearing as well to driving the limits.

On I-80 in Wyoming, the limit is typically 75mph, but every so often you hit a speed reduction zone in the middle of no where.

I assume it was due to either high winds, poor visibility or the site of numerous crashes in the past and they are trying to get traffic to settle down.

[sprjus4]

Speed limits aren't always set by their "urban" quality but also on the local conditions.

There is a large degree of retail along IN-37/I-69 in the Bloomington metro, which creates a large amount of "on-off" traffic.

Traffic planners may have reduced the speed limit to reduce the crash rate due to a large amount of merging traffic.

The AADT of those intersecting roads (and their exits) may have a bearing as well to driving the limits.

The thing is - when you have a speed limit that low to the point it's universally ignored, it's not effective.

[monty]

That's exactly what Bloomington is. I suppose this would make West Lafayette like Fort Collins?

Colorado and Colorado State aren't really on equal footing in the way that Purdue and Indiana are, so I wouldn't really compare West Lafayette to Fort Collins, but I think the Bloomington-Boulder comparison is spot on. Ann Arbor and Madison are very similar as well.

Big differences between Lafayette and Bloomington. Lafayette is far more industrial with larger population. Bloomington more smallish arts community vibe. Very similar in contrasts between IU and Purdue. Arts vs. Engineering. Both great Big Ten schools with very similar sized student populations. Makes for a fun natural rivalry. There's a football game this weekend.