Indiana Notes

[bmeiser]

I'm interested in what two sections of Smith Valley Road will be widened. It's currently two lane from west of US-31 to I-69. The construction of a new roundabout this summer at Averett Road would give the opportunity for widening the approaches in advance, if the section near Greenwood High School is one of the two. The whole road should be made four-lane eventually, but there's a lot of ROW acquisition that will need to take place.

Greenwood - Smith Valley Rd from Browning to US 31 - $4,012,693
This project will involve reconstructing and widening Smith Valley Road within the project limits (Browning Drive to a point approximately 345 feet west of US 31). Features will include two through lanes in each direction, a two-way left turn lane (TWLTL) or a raised center median, curbs and gutters, a new storm sewer, and multi-use paths on both sides of the roadway. A midblock pedestrian crossing with a refuge area, pavement markings, and rectangular rapid flashing beacons at Ashmore Drive for direct connection and access to Greenwood's Tracy Trail have also been included.

Johnson County - Smith Valley Rd from Peterman to Restin Rd - $5,500,000
The Existing Smith Valley Road (from east of the Peterman Rd intersection to west of the Restin Rd intersection) will be widened from two lanes to four lanes with a potential median island. It will include a 6-ft sidewalk and a 10-ft multiuse path, along with ADA-compliant ramps at all legs of the roundabout and across side-street approaches. A roundabout will also be constructed at the Silverleaf Drive intersection.

[tdindy88]

The stretch of Smith Valley from US 31 west to the high school is one of the planned stretches to be widened. The other I think is a short stretch west of SR 135.

[Interstate 69 Fan]

About time, but they really should widen the whole thing from I-69 to US 31 to 4 lanes each direction. I regularly travel Smith Valley, and traffic is pretty bad at certain spots not included in those two widening projects.

[ITB]

About time, but they really should widen the whole thing from I-69 to US 31 to 4 lanes each direction. I regularly travel Smith Valley, and traffic is pretty bad at certain spots not included in those two widening projects.

The plan to widen Smith Valley Road from 2 to 4 lanes — from Mullinix Road to Grassy Creek Lane — is included in the Indianapolis MPO's Circle 2050 Metropolitan Transportation Plan (page 80). According to the report, the widening, broken up into four projects, is scheduled to take place in the 2031–2040 time period. Estimated total cost of the projects is roughly $200 million. This is a placeholder cost for the report, which will undoubtedly change as the year 2030 comes closer.

On page 79 of the Circle 2050 report, there's a color-coded map that shows the planned projects and their respective time periods for scheduled construction. Bear in mind, most of the proposed projects will need funding to move forward. A good number of projects, those for the year 2050 and beyond, are termed "illustrative." That means, apparently, they are more figurative than concrete. Included in that grouping is the potential widening of CR 144 from I-69 to Whiteland Road and from Whiteland to SR 135.

And yet, considering the enormous number of new homes being built in Bargersville and the surrounding area, it's very possible the widening of CR 144 will take on increasing importance by 2030.

[silverback1065]

whatever happened to that project to add a roundabout on either side of 135 and banning left turns on smith valley? i remember that project announced years ago but it never happened.

[Great Lakes Roads]

New exit coming to I-70 in Hancock County...

$45 million interchange at CR 200 West (between Greenfield and Mount Comfort Road interchanges). Won't start construction until 2031.

https://www.greenfieldreporter.com/2025/03/01/indot-plans-new-interstate-exit-in-2031/

EDIT- Gonna be signed as exit 100

[Great Lakes Roads]

https://www.wrtv.com/news/local-news/indot-28-000-drivers-notified-for-speeding-in-northeast-side-construction-zone-in-january-alone

  

28k notices sent out to drivers for speeding in work zones within the month of January? That's nuts!

EDIT: The speed limit in the construction zone at the 465/69 NE interchange is... 45 MPH! So, it doesn't surprise me that people go 10+ over the speed limit (55 mph or faster).

[silverback1065]

I was against this but after seeing the results I like it. Even if you are trying to go 45, everyone else forces you to go 70, this will make everything safer during construction for everyone.

[cjw2001]

https://www.wrtv.com/news/local-news/indot-28-000-drivers-notified-for-speeding-in-northeast-side-construction-zone-in-january-alone

  

28k notices sent out to drivers for speeding in work zones within the month of January? That's nuts!

EDIT: The speed limit in the construction zone at the 465/69 NE interchange is... 45 MPH! So, it doesn't surprise me that people go 10+ over the speed limit (55 mph or faster).

I'm not surprised by that at all.  The few times I've had to drive through the construction zone I've felt extremely unsafe due to the high speeds, narrow lanes, and often changing lane conditions.  Happy to see this.  The last few times I've been in the area speeds seem to be down somewhat.

[Great Lakes Roads]

Milestone Contractors selected for 52@65 project in Boone County

BOONE COUNTY, Ind. - Milestone Contractors, L.P. was recently awarded the construction contract for 52@65, a new interchange project at I-65 and U.S. 52 near Lebanon.

Construction of a diverging diamond interchange is scheduled to begin this spring. The new interchange aims to enhance safety and improve traffic flow, providing better access to both I-65 and U.S. 52.

Based in Indiana, Milestone specializes in bridge construction and asphalt and concrete paving.

A schedule for construction will be shared once finalized. Visit 52at65.com for the latest project plans and materials.



Project team announced for Safer Drive 65 in Clark and Scott Counties

CLARK/SCOTT COUNTY, Ind. - The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) announces that construction is anticipated to begin for Safer Drive 65 in late summer 2025. The Safer Drive 65 project will extend an added travel lane along northbound and southbound I-65 from the current end of a third lane in each direction near Blue Lick Road in Clark County.

After a multi-step procurement process, INDOT recently selected the design-build contractor E&B Paving, Inc. and Milestone Contractors Joint Venture for the project. Improvements include added travel lanes and pavement reconstruction from Blue Lick Road in Clark County to State Road 56 in Scott County. These improvements will enhance safety and improve mobility in the area.

The Safer Drive 65 project schedule is being finalized, but construction is anticipated to begin in late summer 2025 with completion currently scheduled for winter 2027. For more information about the project, please visit www.SaferDrive65.com or follow us on Facebook and X.

[silverback1065]

So the gap south of Indy will be from SR 44 to SR 46, then US 50 to SR 160. Seems like Indy to Louisville will be the first to reach 6 lanes.

[ITB]

Of significance, the Safer Drive 65 website points out that, most likely, only a section of the entire project will involve widening I-65 to three lanes in each direction. The key wording, plus a color-coded map, is on the homepage:

"Approximately 13 miles of the interstate will be reconstructed or rehabilitated, with a focus on widening to three lanes in each direction as much as possible."

According to the map, the widening will begin at Blue Lick Road in Clark County and extend only up to Winding Road. North of Winding Road, I-65 is to be rehabilitated, but will remain two lanes in each direction. It's possible, of course, depending on expenditures and the budget, that I-65 will see additional widening north of Winding Road.


Indiana Department of Transportation, Safer Drive 65

[I-55]

I knew the project had to be rebid because of how high the bids were, but how the hell was the engineer's estimate 18 lane miles plus shoulders too low??? Hopefully the rehabilitation is done in a way that adding the 3rd lane doesn't require reconstructing the existing pavement as well, otherwise I'm out of words.

[silverback1065]

I knew the project had to be rebid because of how high the bids were, but how the hell was the engineer's estimate 18 lane miles plus shoulders too low??? Hopefully the rehabilitation is done in a way that adding the 3rd lane doesn't require reconstructing the existing pavement as well, otherwise I'm out of words.

It's inflation that is to blame, construction costs have raised INSANELY high since 2020. I have a feeling that INDOT is strapped for cash now due to all of these cost increases across the state. I swear the 70 project in Richmond had the entire corridor being widened from SR 1 to Ohio, but it is now US 35 to Ohio. Maybe I am wrong but I thought that was the original plan.

[I-55]

I knew the project had to be rebid because of how high the bids were, but how the hell was the engineer's estimate 18 lane miles plus shoulders too low??? Hopefully the rehabilitation is done in a way that adding the 3rd lane doesn't require reconstructing the existing pavement as well, otherwise I'm out of words.

It's inflation that is to blame, construction costs have raised INSANELY high since 2020. I have a feeling that INDOT is strapped for cash now due to all of these cost increases across the state. I swear the 70 project in Richmond had the entire corridor being widened from SR 1 to Ohio, but it is now US 35 to Ohio. Maybe I am wrong but I thought that was the original plan.

While you're right that inflation is causing strain on the budget, as someone that does a fair amount of cost estimates in this state we've actually been lowering our estimates over the past year (due to a decrease in asphalt prices). Granted it's still way above pre-2020 numbers, but the estimation side should be reflecting the current status quo and not be 50% off.

[ITB]

I knew the project had to be rebid because of how high the bids were, but how the hell was the engineer's estimate 18 lane miles plus shoulders too low??? Hopefully the rehabilitation is done in a way that adding the 3rd lane doesn't require reconstructing the existing pavement as well, otherwise I'm out of words.

It's inflation that is to blame, construction costs have raised INSANELY high since 2020. I have a feeling that INDOT is strapped for cash now due to all of these cost increases across the state. I swear the 70 project in Richmond had the entire corridor being widened from SR 1 to Ohio, but it is now US 35 to Ohio. Maybe I am wrong but I thought that was the original plan.

While you're right that inflation is causing strain on the budget, as someone that does a fair amount of cost estimates in this state we've actually been lowering our estimates over the past year (due to a decrease in asphalt prices). Granted it's still way above pre-2020 numbers, but the estimation side should be reflecting the current status quo and not be 50% off.

To be sure, something was off with the Safer Drive 65 project estimate. It's possible the contractors were seeing aspects and challenges in the build that the estimator was not fully accounting for. This project involves extensive reconstruction and rehabilitation of a highway that was built in the late 1950s or early 1960s. Soil conditions apparently are not ideal in sections, which makes any widening challenging and expensive.

Here's a couple of schematics I grabbed from the February 4, 2025 public hearing video presentation:


Indiana Department of Transportation; Safer Drive 65 project


Indiana Department of Transportation; Safer Drive 65 project

The DBBV (Design Build Best Value) contract appears to be structured in a way that allows flexibility in terms of how much I-65 ultimately will be widened. Many factors will be taken into account of course. The contractors, for example, may encounter decent soil conditions that allow additional widening to proceed within the scope of the project. At the same time, they might run into difficulties that bust the budget. Core samples are useful, but until actual digging takes place nothing is for sure.

[silverback1065]

soil down by the Ohio River I've been told aren't very good for roads and sometimes require expensive treatments to get up to strength.

[tdindy88]

I seem to remember when they were working on I-70 in Hancock County that there was once a plan to widen I-70 from Post Road all the way to SR 9 and then the widening got truncated to Mt Comfort Road while the stretch from Mt Comfort to SR 9 was "rehabilitated." Now they are finishing the widening part from Mt Comfort to SR 9 a few years later. I wonder if something similar will happen on the I-65 stretch down south and/or the I-70 stretch around Richmond.

[Revive 755]

Looking at the March 13th letting, there is a project to replace the Ripley Street (SR 51) bridge over I-80/94 in Lake Station. As part of that project, the interchange itself (exit 15) will go from a cloverleaf to a Parclo A-4, meaning that there will be two new traffic signals on SR 51. Oh, and the exit numbers will change in both directions (I-94 WB- from exits 16 and 15 to just 15 & I-94 EB- from exits 15A-B and 16 to 15A and 15B) as well as new and improved signage on I-94.

From recent travels:  The pavement work for the new left turn from the eastbound exit to NB IN 51 is well underway.  A good amount of the poles and span wires for the signal are also up.

[nwi_navigator_1181]

Looking at the March 13th letting, there is a project to replace the Ripley Street (SR 51) bridge over I-80/94 in Lake Station. As part of that project, the interchange itself (exit 15) will go from a cloverleaf to a Parclo A-4, meaning that there will be two new traffic signals on SR 51. Oh, and the exit numbers will change in both directions (I-94 WB- from exits 16 and 15 to just 15 & I-94 EB- from exits 15A-B and 16 to 15A and 15B) as well as new and improved signage on I-94.

From recent travels:  The pavement work for the new left turn from the eastbound exit to NB IN 51 is well underway.  A good amount of the poles and span wires for the signal are also up.

And work starts next week to install the lights, as well as lane closures to prepare for bridge work. For two weeks, the ramp from I-94 west and both directions of the Indiana Toll Road to Indiana 51 north will be closed. The possible detour will be I-65 north to US 12/20 east, but it's strongly recommended to use Indiana 249 to US 20 West instead.

This project is scheduled to conclude in Fall 2026.

[seicer]

I can confirm that this roundabout was poorly designed and constructed. Prior to 2013, the intersection was a conventional junction between two busy roads, but it was overhauled with Michigan left turns, which significantly reduced the number of accidents. However, it was later converted into a roundabout that is both too small and excessively congested. It operates at the upper limit of what the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) considers appropriate for a roundabout, given the current traffic volume and design.

Intersection on GSV: https://maps.app.goo.gl/mWydZuGXjKp4t3SH8

The 96th Street/Allisonville roundabout was supposed to ease traffic. Instead crashes soared

"The number of crashes at 96th Street and Allisonville Road in Fishers soared after a roundabout was constructed last Fall to replace the old, signaled intersection.

The rise in collisions lends credence to driver complaints that the intersection had gotten more dangerous in the weeks after the roundabout opened, replacing a Michigan left turn design, which was unusual and unpopular but relatively safe.

Fishers Police data shows the crash rate was more than six times higher than the year before at the intersection. From Nov. 1, 2024, when it opened, until Feb. 1 of this year, drivers were in 63 collisions compared to 10 for the same time-period the year before."

[Interstate 69 Fan]

When I drove through the roundabout fairly recently, it almost felt a little scary trying to enter it, due to the traffic volume in the roundabout. A 2 lane roundabout really isn't enough for this intersection, might I recommend a roundabout interchange where both roads have through access (something similar to the I-69/106th St interchange) - I wonder how much traffic is making turns at this intersection compared to going straight across.