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Update on I-69 Extension in Indiana

Started by mukade, June 25, 2011, 08:55:31 AM

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NWI_Irish96

Quote from: SkyPesos on June 30, 2021, 07:55:37 PM
Never would I have thought that US 231 south of I-69 would get upgraded before IN 46 between Bloomington and Greensburg. Guess this seems like the case now...

46 from Bloomington to Columbus is not easy terrain in which to create upgrades.
Indiana: counties 100%, highways 100%
Illinois: counties 100%, highways 61%
Michigan: counties 100%, highways 56%
Wisconsin: counties 86%, highways 23%


SkyPesos

Quote from: cabiness42 on June 30, 2021, 08:51:43 PM
Quote from: SkyPesos on June 30, 2021, 07:55:37 PM
Never would I have thought that US 231 south of I-69 would get upgraded before IN 46 between Bloomington and Greensburg. Guess this seems like the case now...

46 from Bloomington to Columbus is not easy terrain in which to create upgrades.
Even a third alternating passing lane (making it a 2+1 road) is not that simple to add? I prefer a 4 lane (divided or undivided, idc), though adding a third lane is another solution if the terrain makes adding more lanes difficult.

NWI_Irish96

Quote from: SkyPesos on June 30, 2021, 09:08:08 PM
Quote from: cabiness42 on June 30, 2021, 08:51:43 PM
Quote from: SkyPesos on June 30, 2021, 07:55:37 PM
Never would I have thought that US 231 south of I-69 would get upgraded before IN 46 between Bloomington and Greensburg. Guess this seems like the case now...

46 from Bloomington to Columbus is not easy terrain in which to create upgrades.
Even a third alternating passing lane (making it a 2+1 road) is not that simple to add? I prefer a 4 lane (divided or undivided, idc), though adding a third lane is another solution if the terrain makes adding more lanes difficult.

The segment concurrent with 135 wouldn't be the hardest too expand and the few miles immediately west of I-65 may not be too hard but most of that road is pretty tight.

Between the stoplights in Bloomington, the stoplights in Columbus, and the windy sections around Nashville, if I had to go from Bloomington to Greensburg I'd probably take I-69 to IN 44 to I-74.
Indiana: counties 100%, highways 100%
Illinois: counties 100%, highways 61%
Michigan: counties 100%, highways 56%
Wisconsin: counties 86%, highways 23%

US 41

In my view upgrading US 231 from I-69 to I-64 makes a lot of sense. Personally I'd make it a 4 lane highway with at-grade intersections, that can support a 60 mph speed limit, and just build interstate quality bypasses around Huntington, Jasper, and Loogootee.
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Mexico (9)= BCN, BCS, CHIH, COAH, DGO, NL, SON, SIN, TAM

sprjus4

Quote from: US 41 on July 05, 2021, 07:01:52 PM
that can support a 60 mph speed limit
If we're being honest, if it's anything like US-231 south of I-64, it can easily handle 70+ mph travel. But yes, technically, only a 60 mph limit due to an artificial law.

US 41

Quote from: sprjus4 on July 05, 2021, 07:27:46 PM
Quote from: US 41 on July 05, 2021, 07:01:52 PM
that can support a 60 mph speed limit
If we're being honest, if it's anything like US-231 south of I-64, it can easily handle 70+ mph travel. But yes, technically, only a 60 mph limit due to an artificial law.

^This. Most states (outside of the Northeast) will usually give you at least 65 on rural 4 lane divided at-grade highways.
Visited States and Provinces:
USA (48)= All of Lower 48
Canada (5)= NB, NS, ON, PEI, QC
Mexico (9)= BCN, BCS, CHIH, COAH, DGO, NL, SON, SIN, TAM

Great Lakes Roads


ITB

#3882
To understand in part why I-69 in southern Indiana is now a reality and why other roads in the state are being upgraded and expanded, it helps to look at the population statistics of the state.

Indiana — Population (1970–2020)

1970     5,193,669
1980     5,490,224
1990     5,544,159
2000     6,080,485
2010     6,483,802
2020     6,785,528

As the figures show, in the 50 years between 1970 and 2020, Indiana steadily grew in population, adding an additional 1,591,859 residents. That equates to a 30.65% increase from the count of the 1970 Census.

If we extrapolate these figures out another 50 years to the year 2070 and utilize the same 30.65% growth that occurred between 1970 and 2020, Indiana's population will be 8,865,292 in 2070, an increase of 2,079,764 from 2020. Bear in mind, Indiana, compared to many other states, particularly in the south and west, is considered a slow growth state. However, even at a modest growth rate, Indiana will likely add more than two million new residents by 2070.

2020     6,785,528
2070     8,865,292 (+2,079,764)

Here's the figures for same date range for Monroe County, Indiana, which was epicenter of opposition to I-69:

1970       84,849
1980       98,785
1990     108,978
2000     120,563
2010     137,974
2019     148,431 (Note: 2019 is an estimate)

The population growth for the Monroe County between 1970 and 2020 was 63,582, or a 74.93% increase from the 1970 count. Again, if we extrapolate the numbers out another 50 years to 2070 and use the same 74.93% growth figure, the county's population will be 259,650 in 2070. While the increase is not quite a doubling from 2019, it's not far off. Obviously, if Monroe County continues a similar rate of growth as it did between 1970 and 2020, bigger arterial roads capable of handling the additional traffic will be necessary. It's not inconceivable that at some point State Road 46 between Bloomington and Columbus will be expanded. State Road 37 to the south could see an upgrade as well.

2019     148,431 (est.)
2070     259,650 (+111,219)

If Indiana's population growth to the year 2070 — now 48 1/2 years away — matches its growth of the previous 50 years, it will necessitate, of course, the building of more roads and bridges. Likely this will involve the upgrading of several roads to expressway or interstate standards, and the adding of lane miles in other instances through the expansion of already existing roads. In certain select locations new terrain roads may be warranted as well. As mentioned above, Indiana is generally considered a slow growth state. For comparison, here are the population figures of two states which had similar but smaller population counts to Indiana in 1970 but in the 50 years hence grew at a much faster pace:

Georgia
1970      4,589,575
2020    10,711,908

North Carolina
1970      5,082,059
2020     10,439,388

Until the population growth of Indiana, and the United States, generally, begins to wane, road and bridge building throughout the country will continue to be robust. Because ... because there are few feasible options otherwise.

Edit: Minor edits for grammar and readability; added the population statistics for Georgia and North Carolina.






ITB


Construction of Section 6 is rapidly progressing. Between Henderson Ford Road in northern Morgan County and and State Road 144 in southern Johnson County, southbound State Road 37 traffic has been shifted from the northbound lanes to the new, recently completed southbound roadway. Crews are now working to move the concrete barriers from the northbound lanes of SR 37 to the new southbound lanes. Once the barriers are in place, northbound SR 37 traffic, currently running on the northbound roadway, will be shifted to the southbound lanes.

As noted in a post above, the overpass that will carry State Road 144 over I-69 in Martinsville is now open to traffic. With the opening, a small section of northbound SR 37, which has been serving as a temporary connector between State Road 252 and State Road 44, will be closed.

In Marion County, earth work is beginning near the SR 37/County Line Road intersection, where a future interchange is planned. Work is also continuing on the bridge over Pleasant Run Creek, which due to heavy rains over the weekend, was pushing out of its banks but, fortunately, not widely flooding. Back in Martinsville to the south, Ohio Street, which remains open to traffic, will be shifted about 50 feet east to its permanent, realigned course. This will allow crews to embark on the next steps to construct to Ohio Street/Mahalasville Road interchange.

To the pictures. Photos were taken Sunday, July 18, 2021, unless otherwise noted.

Indiana I-69 Corridor Project; Section 6

Looking slightly northeast toward State Road 37 (future I-69) from the Henderson Ford Road overpass in Morgan County. Southbound traffic has been shifted from the northbound roadway to the new, recently completed southbound lanes. The concrete barriers currently in the middle of the northbound lanes to separate traffic will be moved to the southbound lanes to serve the same function. Crews doing this work started near the SR 37/SR 144 intersection and are moving south.


Construction of a culvert just west of the Henderson Ford Road overpass. The path of the northbound exit ramp from I-69 to Henderson Ford Road will run directly over this culvert.


Here's where that exit ramp will meet the southern roundabout at the future Henderson Ford Road interchange. The northern tip of the culvert is partially visible.


Another view of the new southbound lanes of future I-69 from the Henderson Ford Road overpass; looking slightly northeast.


Looking north toward the future southbound roadway of I-69 from near the State Road 37/Morgan Street intersection in Martinsville. At this location, work has progressed to spreading and compressing the base layer of the roadway. On the right, both northbound and southbound SR 37 traffic runs side-by-side on the northbound lanes, separated by a concrete barrier. The barrier, which begins right about where the orange sign is located, extends all the way up to State Road 144.


Mid-range perspective of the above; looking north.


The view in the other direction; looking slightly southwest. While the northbound roadway is taking shape, considerable earth work remains on the southbound. High strength geotextile fabric has been placed on sections of the embankment. This is typically done for soil stabilization and to control settlement.


Closer look at the southbound roadway and its recently placed and compressed sub-base aggregate layer. The road on the left is Twin Branch Road, a recently completed frontage road.


Cross section of State Road 37's southbound roadway near the SR 37/Morgan Street intersection; looking north. Morgan Street, the road in the foreground, was re-striped and extended across the southbound lanes of SR 37 to facilitate its junction with the northbound roadway.

ITB

#3884
Another set of pictures. Photos were taken Sunday, July 18, 2021, unless otherwise noted.


The bridge that will carry a new frontage road over Pleasant Run Creek in Marion County; looking south. In the foreground is the bridge's northern abutment, which is followed by two piers, then the southern abutment. The creek runs between the second of the two piers and the southern abutment, which, unfortunately, is not quite visible. The bridge, which will be elevated just a few feet above the ground, is quite substantial in length.


Due to recent storms, Pleasant Run Creek was engorged and out of its normal channel at the work zone, but not flooding to any meaningful extent; looking southwest.


Another perspective of the work zone at Pleasant Run Creek; from near the bridge's northern abutment, looking south.


From near the State Road 37/Fairview Road intersection in Johnson County, looking north toward the path of a new frontage road. On the right is SR 37. The new frontage road will be substantial in length, running from State Road 144 to the south to Wicker Road to the north, and will intersect with both Smith Valley Road and County Line Road at roundabouts, as well as Fairview Road at a standard intersection.


The now-open overpass that will carry State Road 44 over I-69 in Martinsville; looking east.


Different perspective of the bridge; looking southeast.


The view looking northeast from the SR 44 bridge. Making progress, but still a lot of work to do.


Another view of the SR 44 bridge and roadway; looking east. Although obviously not pictured, the sign in the foreground was identical in size and layout to the one in the background, except "Indianapolis" was replaced by "Evansville" and "north" with "south." And, yes, I did take a picture of it, but the position of the sun, well ... let's say, it was not ideal.


Looking south from SR 44/Reuben Drive toward the construction zone in Martinsville. In the background is the Grand Valley Blvd. overpass.


The northern entrance monument for Martinsville near the SR 44 overpass; looking southeast. Pleasing aesthetic touch.


edwaleni

How did Sartor Ditch and its new culvert do with the recent rains?

Life in Paradise

From the captions of the photographs I can tell that we have now confirmed that Evansville will be the control city on I-69, even north of Bloomington.  I would have thought that they might have used Bloomington from Indianapolis towards Bloom-town.

ITB

^^^
Here's a picture of the sign. Mediocre photo, but, I guess, better than nothing.


The entrance monument to Martinsville and signage at the future I-69/State Road 44 interchange; looking southwest.

Great Lakes Roads

It also confirms that SR 37 will be decommissioned between Bloomington and Fishers once I-69 is fully signed.

silverback1065

Quote from: Great Lakes Roads on July 20, 2021, 03:24:37 PM
It also confirms that SR 37 will be decommissioned between Bloomington and Fishers once I-69 is fully signed.

It's for the best. the long cosigning isnt really useful.

SkyPesos

#3890
If IN 37 gets decommissioned between Bloomington and Fishers, I guess that means the number of highways concurrent on I-465 wouldn't change. At I-65's interchange with I-465/I-74/Future I-69, would I-69's control cities get added on, so it'll be something like Peoria/Evansville and Cincinnati/Ft Wayne?

silverback1065

I never realized this but 67 should just be removed from 465 on the SW side to where it leaves 69. no point of the overlap.

edwaleni

Does anyone have access to recent AADT's for IN-67 and IN-39 since IN-37 was closed?

Some of the local press has been complaining of traffic backups at traffic lights, especially around Mooresville, Heartland Crossing and Ronald Reagan Parkway.

Was wondering if INDOT was tracking traffic count shifts while the construction was in process.

tdindy88

Quote from: silverback1065 on July 21, 2021, 03:02:59 PM
I never realized this but 67 should just be removed from 465 on the SW side to where it leaves 69. no point of the overlap.

Agreed. I was mentioning something about this a few months ago. SR 67 should just be two segments, Vincennes to Indy and Daleville to the Ohio border, or maybe just Portland.

Henry

Quote from: SkyPesos on July 21, 2021, 02:21:09 PM
If IN 37 gets decommissioned between Bloomington and Fishers, I guess that means the number of highways concurrent on I-465 wouldn't change. At I-65's interchange with I-465/I-74/Future I-69, would I-69's control cities get added on, so it'll be something like Peoria/Evansville and Cincinnati/Ft Wayne?
Yes, I could definitely see this happening at the new southern I-69 interchange, and ditto for the southern junction with I-65, since the same three Interstates will also meet there. For the eastern I-70 junction, new signs should be made, with the following information:

I-69/I-465 NORTH--Ft. Wayne
I-69/I-465 SOUTH--Evansville

I've noticed that there are no control cities on the current signs, so this would be the perfect time to make new ones in preparation for the extension's completion.
Go Cubs Go! Go Cubs Go! Hey Chicago, what do you say? The Cubs are gonna win today!

SkyPesos

Looks like Google Maps have I-69 labels on IN 37 between Martinsville and I-465 now even though it's incomplete  :-D

SSR_317

Quote from: SkyPesos on July 24, 2021, 12:22:25 AM
Looks like Google Maps have I-69 labels on IN 37 between Martinsville and I-465 now even though it's incomplete  :-D
And, of course, as anyone who has been following this project already knows, I-69 will NOT be following the current path of SR 37 north of Edgewood Ave. In fact, the existing pavement on that alignment will be removed south of Epler Ave, once the new Exit 5 on I-465 opens in three years.

Interstate 69 Fan

Exit signs have been put up before the SR 39 interchange heading northbound, seen in this photo posted by I-69 Finish Line on Facebook.

https://www.facebook.com/I69FinishLine/photos/a.1774041949475529/3002317313314647/
Apparently I’m a fan of I-69.  Who knew.

abqtraveler

Quote from: SkyPesos on July 24, 2021, 12:22:25 AM
Looks like Google Maps have I-69 labels on IN 37 between Martinsville and I-465 now even though it's incomplete  :-D

Google has been really bad at jumping the gun on designating future interstates. They rushed to designate the Pennyrile Parkway as I-169 and the freeway section of US-51 between Dyersburg and Troy, Tennessee as I-69, even though both sections of freeway have not yet been approved for interstate designation.
2-d Interstates traveled:  4, 5, 8, 10, 15, 20, 24, 25, 27, 29, 35, 39, 40, 41, 43, 45, 49, 55, 57, 64, 65, 66, 69, 70, 71, 72, 74, 75, 76(E), 77, 78, 81, 83, 84(W), 85, 87(N), 89, 90, 91, 93, 94, 95

2-d Interstates Clinched:  12, 22, 30, 37, 44, 59, 80, 84(E), 86(E), 238, H1, H2, H3, H201

SkyPesos

Quote from: abqtraveler on August 04, 2021, 10:59:10 AM
Quote from: SkyPesos on July 24, 2021, 12:22:25 AM
Looks like Google Maps have I-69 labels on IN 37 between Martinsville and I-465 now even though it's incomplete  :-D
[img snipped]
Google has been really bad at jumping the gun on designating future interstates. They rushed to designate the Pennyrile Parkway as I-169 and the freeway section of US-51 between Dyersburg and Troy, Tennessee as I-69, even though both sections of freeway have not yet been approved for interstate designation.
Also what is now Future I-26 north of Asheville. I thought the two segments were linked a long time ago because of Google Maps, until someone on the forum corrected me.



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