Indiana Notes

[NWI_Irish96]

"INDOT faces fiscal cliff without road funding changes"

INDOT and state legislators are increasingly concerned the transition to alternative-fuel vehicles will harm the budget in upcoming years. As a result, they're looking for possible answers.

It's almost as if decades of pandering to voters by cutting income and property taxes is harming infrastructure.

[ITB]

On the INDOT TrafficWise website, the real-time messages on the state's Dynamic Message Signs, as well as Time Travel Signs, are viewable.

Check it out here.

[Life in Paradise]

"INDOT faces fiscal cliff without road funding changes"

INDOT and state legislators are increasingly concerned the transition to alternative-fuel vehicles will harm the budget in upcoming years. As a result, they're looking for possible answers.

It's more of an advance notice of what could be a big problem.  What they should have done when they started the hybrid/electric registration charge is to make sure that the majority of those funds went towards replacing gas tax funding, which is the way its sold to the public.  A comparison to me would be for state governments taxing tobacco products to discourage usage and fund healthcare, and then complaining when there is not enough to fund the healthcare because usage is down.

It's almost as if decades of pandering to voters by cutting income and property taxes is harming infrastructure.

[nwi_navigator_1181]

Work on I-65 and I-80/94 has officially wrapped up in Northwest Indiana. All lanes and ramps have been repaired and reopened.

Further downstate, work remains on the I-65 bridges over and south of Indiana 43 in Lafayette. The third lane being built is otherwise striped for use but not yet opened (likely won't be until the bridges are completed).

With the exception of some work at the US 52 merge, all three lanes of I-65 southbound are open from just north of Indiana 47 to the south end of the work zone near Indiana 32. As you know, the old left-handed ramp to Lafayette Avenue no longer stands, and northbound traffic has been graded down to remove the old overpass. Strangely, a stub of the old C/D ramp (originally designed for those merging from Lafayette Avenue northbound - a merge that also no longer exists) still remains at the US 52 west exit. Crews have removed the temporary median barrier from I-65 northbound and will work to stripe the final configuration next week.

[silverback1065]

Work on I-65 and I-80/94 has officially wrapped up in Northwest Indiana. All lanes and ramps have been repaired and reopened.

Further downstate, work remains on the I-65 bridges over and south of Indiana 43 in Lafayette. The third lane being built is otherwise striped for use but not yet opened (likely won't be until the bridges are completed).

With the exception of some work at the US 52 merge, all three lanes of I-65 southbound are open from just north of Indiana 47 to the south end of the work zone near Indiana 32. As you know, the old left-handed ramp to Lafayette Avenue no longer stands, and northbound traffic has been graded down to remove the old overpass. Strangely, a stub of the old C/D ramp (originally designed for those merging from Lafayette Avenue northbound - a merge that also no longer exists) still remains at the US 52 west exit. Crews have removed the temporary median barrier from I-65 northbound and will work to stripe the final configuration next week.

My guess it that is staying that way because that entire interchange will be removed soon. and US 52 will leave 65 at the new exit at 300s, they'll probably remove it when that new exit opens.

[Moose]

I-465 to I-65 ramp closure tonight.

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=852571200202237&set=a.516173620508665

[Great Lakes Roads]

https://www.14news.com/video/2023/12/08/indot-nancy-hanks-rest-stop-area-set-close-2025/

More rest areas to close in Indiana (for cars)- Nancy Hanks on Interstate 64 in 2025.

Eastbound- closed and removed for good
Westbound- demolished and converted into truck parking

[Life in Paradise]

https://www.14news.com/video/2023/12/08/indot-nancy-hanks-rest-stop-area-set-close-2025/

More rest areas to close in Indiana (for cars)- Nancy Hanks on Interstate 64 in 2025.

Eastbound- closed and removed for good
Westbound- demolished and converted into truck parking

As an Indiana resident I am fully opposed to these closures of rest areas, and feel that this is very short sighted and not public friendly.

[tdindy88]

https://www.14news.com/video/2023/12/08/indot-nancy-hanks-rest-stop-area-set-close-2025/

More rest areas to close in Indiana (for cars)- Nancy Hanks on Interstate 64 in 2025.

Eastbound- closed and removed for good
Westbound- demolished and converted into truck parking

As an Indiana resident I am fully opposed to these closures of rest areas, and feel that this is very short sighted and not public friendly.

Of course it's very short sighted and not public friendly. Indiana isn't concerned about those things, they just want one less thing that they have to spend money on maintaining. I hate it that Indiana acts like it's so freaking poor it can't maintain a rest area, yet they have enough of a surplus to give us $125 checks from time to time.

[cjw2001]

https://www.14news.com/video/2023/12/08/indot-nancy-hanks-rest-stop-area-set-close-2025/

More rest areas to close in Indiana (for cars)- Nancy Hanks on Interstate 64 in 2025.

Eastbound- closed and removed for good
Westbound- demolished and converted into truck parking

As an Indiana resident I am fully opposed to these closures of rest areas, and feel that this is very short sighted and not public friendly.

Of course it's very short sighted and not public friendly. Indiana isn't concerned about those things, they just want one less thing that they have to spend money on maintaining. I hate it that Indiana acts like it's so freaking poor it can't maintain a rest area, yet they have enough of a surplus to give us $125 checks from time to time.

INDOT announced that they will be spending $600 million over 10 years on rest areas: 

https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/indot-has-600-million-plan-to-add-truck-parking-improve-21-rest-parks-department-of-transportation/531-ceb024a8-a6b6-4abf-84d3-a80089c6f4ed

https://fox59.com/video/indot-investing-600-million-in-rest-stops-amid-truck-parking-shortage/9251535/

https://www.in.gov/indot/files/Rest-Area-and-Welcome-Center-Improvement-Plan.pdf?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

[monty]

Fun story with Indiana twist - most loathsome highways: 📸 Look at this post on Facebook https://www.mywabashvalley.com/news/indiana-news/indiana-home-to-2-of-americas-most-loathed-highways/?utm_campaign=socialflow&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=referral&fbclid=IwAR08fxjczRjQJKe8r9EMy5GdGmYDgJQDTzV-WjBYnlUe4MzUqqwM6nEIz_A_aem_Ac1NnY-A7SK-Hju_-bNze28uZqkRANsamIQahxhpwaQv7lod7fu-1juxciisJP4gZcw

[NWI_Irish96]

Fun story with Indiana twist - most loathsome highways: 📸 Look at this post on Facebook https://www.mywabashvalley.com/news/indiana-news/indiana-home-to-2-of-americas-most-loathed-highways/?utm_campaign=socialflow&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=referral&fbclid=IwAR08fxjczRjQJKe8r9EMy5GdGmYDgJQDTzV-WjBYnlUe4MzUqqwM6nEIz_A_aem_Ac1NnY-A7SK-Hju_-bNze28uZqkRANsamIQahxhpwaQv7lod7fu-1juxciisJP4gZcw

Agreed on I-65 between Chicago and Indy. We pretty much use US 41 and I-74 to avoid it. They can't get that stretch of I-65 6-laned fast enough.

[mukade]

"The Lafayette Redevelopment Commissioners approved a contract for the design plans on a new I-65 exit in Lafayette. The exit would allow drivers to get off the interstate at McCarty Lane..."

https://www.wlfi.com/news/local/discussions-on-new-i-65-exit-in-lafayette/article_f9f44190-9ad7-11ee-a1d8-77be43d1dbbf.html

[mgk920]

Fun story with Indiana twist - most loathsome highways: 📸 Look at this post on Facebook https://www.mywabashvalley.com/news/indiana-news/indiana-home-to-2-of-americas-most-loathed-highways/?utm_campaign=socialflow&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=referral&fbclid=IwAR08fxjczRjQJKe8r9EMy5GdGmYDgJQDTzV-WjBYnlUe4MzUqqwM6nEIz_A_aem_Ac1NnY-A7SK-Hju_-bNze28uZqkRANsamIQahxhpwaQv7lod7fu-1juxciisJP4gZcw

Not US 30 across the state, with the constant STOPSTOPTOPSTOPSTOP at its intersections?  Thus, I call bogus on that list!

Mike

[PurdueBill]

"The Lafayette Redevelopment Commissioners approved a contract for the design plans on a new I-65 exit in Lafayette. The exit would allow drivers to get off the interstate at McCarty Lane..."

https://www.wlfi.com/news/local/discussions-on-new-i-65-exit-in-lafayette/article_f9f44190-9ad7-11ee-a1d8-77be43d1dbbf.html

Pretty close to the SR 26 exit, but I guess it would take some of the load off of the 26 exit from traffic going to places served by McCarty.  The sprawl around Lafayette has been amazing the last 30 years.  When I was at Purdue, there was basically nothing in places that are completely built up now and have been for over 15 years now even. 

[PurdueBill]

Fun story with Indiana twist - most loathsome highways: 📸 Look at this post on Facebook https://www.mywabashvalley.com/news/indiana-news/indiana-home-to-2-of-americas-most-loathed-highways/?utm_campaign=socialflow&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=referral&fbclid=IwAR08fxjczRjQJKe8r9EMy5GdGmYDgJQDTzV-WjBYnlUe4MzUqqwM6nEIz_A_aem_Ac1NnY-A7SK-Hju_-bNze28uZqkRANsamIQahxhpwaQv7lod7fu-1juxciisJP4gZcw

I'm surprised I-70 between the Ohio line and Indy is not on there.  I detest that much more than 65 between Indy and Gary. 

[Great Lakes Roads]

https://www.wthitv.com/news/top-stories/indot-had-a-busy-year-in-2023-but-expect-more-projects-in-the-new-year/article_be9f8e92-9af0-11ee-a764-a75cfefbb3ce.html

"Next year, INDOT will replace the twin bridges at Robinson and Sidenbender Roads on I-70 with arch tunnels."

These pair of bridges are located in the Terre Haute area...

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.4393977,-87.5176541,3a,75y,25.38h,88.7t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sD_OBzqFNMh-xLXGo9pY6ew!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu

https://www.google.com/maps/@39.4308185,-87.374999,3a,75y,98.36h,95.22t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sy9oNT-Zv6TvYrSM2QyXbUw!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu

[Rothman]

Touting a Taj Mahal rest area/visitor center would not go over well in NY, since it's assumed those funds could go into preserving the system.

[Terry Shea]

Fun story with Indiana twist - most loathsome highways: 📸 Look at this post on Facebook https://www.mywabashvalley.com/news/indiana-news/indiana-home-to-2-of-americas-most-loathed-highways/?utm_campaign=socialflow&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=referral&fbclid=IwAR08fxjczRjQJKe8r9EMy5GdGmYDgJQDTzV-WjBYnlUe4MzUqqwM6nEIz_A_aem_Ac1NnY-A7SK-Hju_-bNze28uZqkRANsamIQahxhpwaQv7lod7fu-1juxciisJP4gZcw

Well, we have 50 states and this is a list of 100 highways, or 2 highways per state on average.  When you consider that Indiana is in the upper third in population, 2 listings seems fairly tame.

[KelleyCook]

As you know, the old left-handed ramp to Lafayette Avenue no longer stands, and northbound traffic has been graded down to remove the old overpass. Strangely, a stub of the old C/D ramp (originally designed for those merging from Lafayette Avenue northbound - a merge that also no longer exists) still remains at the US 52 west exit.

Does this mean that this proposed flyover was never built https://www.in.gov/indot/files/Additional%20Materials%20-%20Proposed%20Lafayette%20Avenue%20Flyover%20Ramp.pdf ? Meaning you now just can't access Lafayette Ave from SB I-65 ?

[bmeiser]

Correct. At least not yet.

[Genghixiani]

I know this is WAY off topic, but who else remembers when the IN-13 IN-38 crossing roughly halfway between Lapel and I-69 was closed for 2-3 weeks, and IN-32 was closed for a bridge for 6-7 Months left of Fishersburg, forcing everyone having to use IN-13 or IN-38?

Just me? Okay.

[silverback1065]

As you know, the old left-handed ramp to Lafayette Avenue no longer stands, and northbound traffic has been graded down to remove the old overpass. Strangely, a stub of the old C/D ramp (originally designed for those merging from Lafayette Avenue northbound - a merge that also no longer exists) still remains at the US 52 west exit.

Does this mean that this proposed flyover was never built https://www.in.gov/indot/files/Additional%20Materials%20-%20Proposed%20Lafayette%20Avenue%20Flyover%20Ramp.pdf ? Meaning you now just can't access Lafayette Ave from SB I-65 ?

That is probably dead, especially with the new 52 exit being built immediately north of it.

[KelleyCook]

That is probably dead, especially with the new 52 exit being built immediately north of it.

Oh I see now. Things Have Changed (namely Eli Lilly)

...and so now the entire current US-52 intersection is going away in favor of this.




https://www.52at65.com


Thanks

[Great Lakes Roads]

https://wimsradio.com/2023/12/18/gov-holcomb-indot-announce-127m-mega-grant-for-flexroad-project-in-northwest-indiana/

Gov. Holcomb, INDOT announce $127M MEGA grant for FlexRoad project in northwest Indiana