Update on I-69 Extension in Indiana

[abqtraveler]

The I-69 extension through southern Indiana has seemed to gone radio-dark.  Any updates or pictures of I-69 construction between Martinsville and Indianapolis as of late?

[tdindy88]

Someone will have to provide the pictures, but this is just a quiet year in terms of construction activity. The bulk of this year's work is just road projects around Martinsville to prepare that city for the eventual closure of SR 37 through the city for conversion into I-69. I know I've seen some tree clearing going on around the highway just north of Martinsville. For those in Bloomington I can see it as a nice break from having to put up with construction over the past few years, a lull in the action before construction picks up again along SR 37 in the coming years.

[ITB]

I took a few pictures yesterday of the construction underway in Martinsville, Indiana. Even though it was a wet June, decent progress has been made. As many of you know, the bulk of the work currently underway involves the new overpass and associated bridge that will carry Grand Valley Blvd. over State Road 37 (future I-69) and Sartor Ditch. Work is also ongoing on the new the local roadway – Artesian Avenue – which will run between Mahalasville Rd. to Grand Valley Blvd., as well as the extensions of Grand Valley Blvd. – west to South Street in Martinsville proper and east to Cramertown Loop.

Without further adieu, let's go the pics. Photos were taken Sunday, July 7, 2019. Remember to expand the photos, Right Click, etc.

South Street/Grand Valley Blvd. work zone at Sartor Ditch, Martinsville, Indiana

The bridge that will carry Grand Valley Blvd. over Sartor Ditch in Martinsville, Indiana; looking east.


Closer look of the bridge beams; looking east.


Another perspective of the bridge that will carry Grand Valley Blvd. over Sartor Ditch; looking south.


The work zone and equipment, with State Road 37 in the background. There's been some issues with people, mainly Martinsville High School students, entering the construction zone to cross SR 37 at the Grand Valley Blvd. intersection. Hence the "Do Not Cross" sign.


Another look at the work zone; looking east.


The perspective looking east from South Street.

[ITB]

Here's a few more. Again, the photos were taken Sunday, July 7, 2019.

South Street/Grand Valley Blvd. work zone at Sartor Ditch, Martinsville, Indiana

The shared use path that will connect Martinsville High School to the bridge carrying Grand Valley Blvd. over Sartor Ditch; looking south. The empty space will be filled in, creating an elevated path that will rise to meet the bridge. Just off to the right is Sartor Ditch.


MSE (Mechanically Stabilized Earth) walls are being constructed to support the elevated shared use path. Sartor Ditch is to the left, and Martinsville High School is in the background.


Slightly different perspective of the western MSE wall of the shared use path, which will rise to the bridge over Sartor Ditch (piles, background); looking south.

State Road 37

Looking south toward State Road 37 (future Interstate 69) from near the SR 37/SR 252 intersection. Construction has commenced on the abutments for the overpass that will carry Grand Valley Blvd. over SR 37.


Another view looking south toward SR 37 from the SR 37/SR 252 intersection.


And here's the view without the telephoto lens.

That's all for now. It's almost exactly three months to the day when the main contract for Segment 1, Section 6 – aka the Martinsville segment – is to be let. That will kick off 4-5 years of intense construction on SR 37, with the aim of completing the entirety of Section 6 sometime in 2024.

[Life in Paradise]

Thanks for the photos ITB!  What are the current dates given for the closure of 37 around Martinsville?

[silverback1065]

Thanks for the photos ITB!  What are the current dates given for the closure of 37 around Martinsville?

Plans just went to final tracings a few weeks ago, I think it will be bid by the end of the year.  I think the closure will be 2021?

[sprjus4]

May 2019 Google Street View imagery added along the entirety of Section 5 showing it in its completed form, no longer under construction unlike the previous 2018 imagery.

[ilpt4u]

May 2019 Google Street View imagery added along the entirety of Section 5 showing it in its completed form, no longer under construction unlike the previous 2018 imagery.

Not fully completed. It still shows at-grades on the Aerials; Sample Rd Interchange is still under construction; so is Kinser Pike; Tapp Rd is certainly not completed, nor is Fullerton Pike. So it can't be all 2019 imagery.

The Northern part of Section 5/just south of Martinsville, does appear to be newer imagery, showing completion and full grade separation

[sprjus4]

May 2019 Google Street View imagery added along the entirety of Section 5 showing it in its completed form, no longer under construction unlike the previous 2018 imagery.

Not fully completed. It still shows at-grades on the Aerials; Sample Rd Interchange is still under construction; so is Kinser Pike; Tapp Rd is certainly not completed, nor is Fullerton Pike. So it can't be all 2019 imagery.

The Northern part of Section 5/just south of Martinsville, does appear to be newer imagery, showing completion and full grade separation

The aerial imagery is mostly outdated, but the Google Street View imagery is fully updated as of May 2019.

[ilpt4u]

Don't mind me...I brainfarted and momentarily forgot GSV and Google Aerial views are different animals...

[tdindy88]

The aerial photography for Bloomington always seems to be two years behind while the Indianapolis metro area gets updated once a year it seems.

As a side note, a few weeks ago I was in Bloomington and I was able to get an updated county highway map that does feature I-69 and all the exits and overpasses, the only thing missing were the exit numbers.

[silverback1065]

37 will not be signed on the Martinsville segment. Looks like 37 will be decommissioned between the 2 splits with 69.

[tdindy88]

37 will not be signed on the Martinsville segment. Looks like 37 will be decommissioned between the 2 splits with 69.

May I ask where you got this information from?

[silverback1065]

Let's just say a little birdie told me

[abqtraveler]

Let's just say a little birdie told me

That's probably not the official answer, but I wouldn't be surprised that INDOT decommissions SR-37 between I-465 and the split with I-69 at Bloomington, given the state's track record of decommissioning state routes where they overlap an interstate or upgraded US route.

[Interstate 69 Fan]

Let's just say a little birdie told me

That's probably not the official answer, but I wouldn't be surprised that INDOT decommissions SR-37 between I-465 and the split with I-69 at Bloomington, given the state's track record of decommissioning state routes where they overlap an interstate or upgraded US route.

Why not from Exit 205?

[silverback1065]

It's definitely true. I asked the sign plan designer.

[SSR_317]

37 will not be signed on the Martinsville segment. Looks like 37 will be decommissioned between the 2 splits with 69.

BOO!

I'll trade INDOT that, if they agree to apply for I-67 for US 31 north of I-465. Can't let those usurpers in NC get the drop on us!

[abqtraveler]

37 will not be signed on the Martinsville segment. Looks like 37 will be decommissioned between the 2 splits with 69.

BOO!

I'll trade INDOT that, if they agree to apply for I-67 for US 31 north of I-465. Can't let those usurpers in NC get the drop on us!

Last I read on the US-31 work from Indy to South Bend is that INDOT is not planning a full upgrade to interstate stamdards, although they will be upgrading 31 so it will be non-stop from I-465 to where the current freeway starts at US-30. Major intersections will be converted to interchanges, but some of the minor ones and some farm and business accesses will remain, maybe with RIRO access only.

[tdindy88]

Why not from Exit 205?

SR 37 will almost certainly be split up from Exit 205 to the north. Which would leave SR 37 in THREE sections: Tell City to Bloomington, Fishers to Marion and Fort Wayne to Ohio.

I know it's inevitable and par the course for INDOT, but why exactly does SR 37 have to be decommissioned? The state is obviously still maintaining all the roadways that SR 37 would follow along I-69. There's no mileage issues either. It just seems like something that wouldn't hurt anything. If nothing else, the 37 name should stay on for an intern period to allow for people and maps to get used to I-69 before eliminating SR 37 along that stretch.

[Nacho]

I had figured 37's days on that whole stretch were numbered given INDOT's tendencies. I'll certainly miss it as throughout my childhood taking 37 to Indy was the first part of most roadtrips but I get it. The 37 designation won't really serve that much purpose on that whole stretch, which is more than I can say about some of their decommissioning/rerouting decisions.

[X99]

Any new pictures, ITB?

[thefro]

I had figured 37's days on that whole stretch were numbered given INDOT's tendencies. I'll certainly miss it as throughout my childhood taking 37 to Indy was the first part of most roadtrips but I get it. The 37 designation won't really serve that much purpose on that whole stretch, which is more than I can say about some of their decommissioning/rerouting decisions.

Yeah, to me, co-signing the entire road from Bloomington to the split in Fishers/Noblesville will just confuse people and serves no purpose.

[X99]

I had figured 37's days on that whole stretch were numbered given INDOT's tendencies. I'll certainly miss it as throughout my childhood taking 37 to Indy was the first part of most roadtrips but I get it. The 37 designation won't really serve that much purpose on that whole stretch, which is more than I can say about some of their decommissioning/rerouting decisions.

Yeah, to me, co-signing the entire road from Bloomington to the split in Fishers/Noblesville will just confuse people and serves no purpose.

Couldn't they keep the designation, but leave it unsigned? No confusing road signs, and no gaps. (37 would exit at the Epler interchange and follow what remains of its original pre-69 routing.)

[silverback1065]

Nah they're going to decomission that when the interchange is done. I can't remember what the designer said but I believe indot wanted it signed but the feds said don't. Don't quote me on that.