Anyone have a pretty good time line of completion dates on I-64 in Indiana? I know I-64 was done in Illinois from 72-76 time frame as I have a decent shape 73 Rand McNally Atlas.
Have you used bridge dates to get rough dates (+-1-2 years)?
No didn't know that way.
I have a good knowledge of when sections of I-64 opened in Indiana. I lived in Evansville when it was being constructed, and I worked as a co-op in the INDOT Vincennes district at the time. It is one of my favorite interstates in the country.
It was constructed from both borders and met in the middle.
E- Sherman Minton Bridge - Opened around 1961
E -SR 62 in New Albany up Floyds Knobs to SR 62(US 460)/SR 64 exit- Opened late 1967 or early 1968 (about 5-6 miles)
W-IL 1 just over the Wabash River to US 41 exit (25 miles)
W- US 41 exit to SR 57 exit (4 miles) - late 1971
W- SR 57 exit to SR 61 exit (10 miles) - late 1973
E- SR 62(US 460)/SR 64 to SR 135 exit (13 miles) - late 1973
W- SR 61 exit to US 231 exit (approx. 20 miles)- mid 1975
E- SR 135 exit to SR 37 N. exit (approx 15-20 miles) - late 1975
Last segment - US 231 exit to SR 37 N. exit (25-30 miles) - September 15, 1976
During the nearly 1 year when there was the single gap in the middle, INDOT put I-64 signs along the US 460/SR 62 sign assemblies. They weren't trailblazers, I-64 was actually co-signed.
A few weeks after I-64 was completed in Indiana, US 460 was decommissioned in Indiana and Illinois.
I-64 was the last original mainline interstate to be completed in Indiana. I-265 opened one month later on October 15, 1976.
Thanks alot and great information there. It is a very pretty Interstate west of Corydon to just east of Evansville with lots of rolling hills and forests.
I also like alot of the wide medians involved west of Louisville as in some places you can't even see the other side thru the forests. Much prettier than say I-70 in Missouri.
Needless to say, it's probably the ONLY Indiana interstate that could be considered scenic, in parts at least. But I always enjoyed it from New Albany over to US 231, it makes you forget that Indiana is generally a flat, boring state.
Having driven virtually all of the Indiana interstates at one time or another, you are right, I-64 IS about the only scenic one in the state. Virtually the entire stretch between US 231 and Corydon was design and constructed to where each pair of lanes is on independent alignments. That helps make it an even more interesting segment.
BTW, I have also driven the parallel SR 62 (decommissioned US 460), which is a scenic but slow, dangerous and curvy road. Completion I-64 cut over an hour from the trip to Louisville from Evansville. Before I-64, most people drove out of their way to use SR 64 further north to avoid that bad road.
One other exception on the lack of scenic interstates in Indiana................the first 20 miles or so of I-74 as you head west from the Ohio state line. That area is rugged and hilly much like I-64, if not more so. In fact, the non-glaciated parts of southern Indiana are generally hilly to begin with.
I guess bad is in the eye of the beholder, because State Road 62 is one of my top favorites in Indiana. It's just a gorgeous drive. jim
The previous post is absolutely correct. SR 62 is definitely very scenic. It is a very unique drive. The section between Dale and Corydon is 80 miles of almost continuous curves, woods and scenery. I was making the point that if you purpose was to get to Louisville in the shortest period of time and to keep a reasonable speed, few people I knew chose to drive that road.
I live 75 feet from that road and can atest to the beauty of the road. I highly recommend the Overlook Inn in Leavonworth. Good foood and great views of the Ohio River and God's County aka Kentucky.
Quote from: RoadWarrior56 on January 22, 2011, 09:11:07 PM
The previous post is absolutely correct. SR 62 is definitely very scenic. It is a very unique drive. The section between Dale and Corydon is 80 miles of almost continuous curves, woods and scenery. I was making the point that if you purpose was to get to Louisville in the shortest period of time and to keep a reasonable speed, few people I knew chose to drive that road.
My goal is usually to get
AWAY FROM Louisville in the shortest period of time. :-D
SR 62 at the entrance to the Harrison-Crawford State Forest:
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm3.static.flickr.com%2F2709%2F4425299735_01df1c0a5e.jpg&hash=d201f5d42a7a408985e7006c88fb1784c6c25bca) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mobilene/4425299735/)
Southern Indiana road trip (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mobilene/4425299735/) by mobilene (http://www.flickr.com/people/mobilene/), on Flickr
A view of the Ohio River at the Overlook Restaurant in Leavenworth, on SR 62:
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm5.static.flickr.com%2F4018%2F4425301043_2deb64bd60.jpg&hash=e9d2fd71989c21aa01ffe7fab3520ffe8e08779c) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mobilene/4425301043/)
Southern Indiana road trip (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mobilene/4425301043/) by mobilene (http://www.flickr.com/people/mobilene/), on Flickr
If you're in a hurry, don't take SR 62. If you like spirited or scenic driving, SR 62 is a great choice.
Peace,
jim
Last time I was at the Overlook in July saw a Eagle riding the upcurrents. Also if you want nice views take a ride into the O'Bannon State Park and go pretty far in. I saw a nice eight pointer and also if you get lucky you can get a campsite right on the river.
If you guys take IN-62 Westward from Edwardsville towards Corydon. I won't say what it is but you will see the only one left in Indiana. I live less than 75 feet from it.
Quote from: ShawnP on January 24, 2011, 09:03:08 PM
If you guys take IN-62 Westward from Edwardsville towards Corydon. I won't say what it is but you will see the only one left in Indiana. I live less than 75 feet from it.
no, there are others... also there's four in Illinois, oddly enough.
Cool link and like the picture. The one local is in pretty good shape and will last for much longer unless sign Nazi's get it.
Quote from: agentsteel53 on January 24, 2011, 09:28:16 PM
Quote from: ShawnP on January 24, 2011, 09:03:08 PM
If you guys take IN-62 Westward from Edwardsville towards Corydon. I won't say what it is but you will see the only one left in Indiana. I live less than 75 feet from it.
no, there are others... also there's four in Illinois, oddly enough.
Let me guess ... US 460 signs? If so, I wanna see pictures! ;-)
Good luck finding US 460 signs. US 460 was decommissioned in Indiana in November of 1976, well over 30 yrs ago. Much of US 460 was also on the Lincoln Heritage Trail, so sign assemblies had US 460, SR 62 and a Lincoln Heritage Trail sign. There were also a lot of classic 1940's spec cutout shields along that roadway well into the 1970's. I needed my digital camera when I was a teen back there, hahaha, I could had taken pictures.
Two bits of trivia about US 460 in Indiana. It was only commissioned west of its current terminus in the early 50's from what I had read, so it was only around in Indiana and Illinois for approximately 25 yrs. It has been gone longer than it was ever here. Also, the only section of US 460 in the State of Indiana that was not a duplex with another route was about 5 miles of the Diamond Avenue Expressway on the north side of Evansville. The rest of it was either duplexed with SR 62 or SR 66. That made it a real easy route number to decommission.
It's actually a pretty good quality 1957 type Indiana I-64 sign. I have lots of pictures of it in the fall and winter.
Quote from: ShawnP on January 25, 2011, 09:07:05 PM
It's actually a pretty good quality 1957 type Indiana I-64 sign. I have lots of pictures of it in the fall and winter.
(//www.aaroads.com/shields/img/IN/IN19610651i1.jpg)
in Chicago, of all places.
That old girl doesn't have much life left in her. However so many cool signs on that sign.
Quote from: agentsteel53 on January 25, 2011, 10:17:55 PM
in Chicago, of all places.
Hmm, I wonder why the 65 is covering up something? Did the original 65 wear out or was there some number there I didn't know about?
I think they just needed a 65 real fast so they took a blank that was another number and redid it.
What I always found interesting about this sign is that being in Chicago it has "Indiana" on the shields. Plus, what shield use to be on it. You can see the outlines of other shields in the background.
Quote from: rmsandw on January 25, 2011, 11:49:09 PM
What I always found interesting about this sign is that being in Chicago it has "Indiana" on the shields. Plus, what shield use to be on it. You can see the outlines of other shields in the background.
I think they just moved them around - there were at one point three routes, then they added a fourth. probably the 65. was that the last one completed in the Portage/Gary area?
Sign in Lanesville is on the westbound lane side and in good shape. The eastbound sign is of new standard and not 57. I have pics in the pretty fall foliage and recently in the snow. I have seen others taking pics so I know road geeks have seen it like me.
Would like to see the pics...
Quote from: agentsteel53 on January 26, 2011, 12:11:13 AM
probably the 65. was that the last one completed in the Portage/Gary area?
"the 65"?? Hoosiers don't speak Californian, of course.
Portage/Gary area?
- Gary: 95,707
- Hammond 76,545
- Portage 37,322
- Merrillville 33,416
Northwest Indiana or Gary-Hammond area would be better. Gary-Merrillville area if you're talking about largest cities on I-65. Portage is 5 miles east of I-65 at its closest point.
Quote from: mukade on January 26, 2011, 10:21:09 PM
"the 65"?? Hoosiers don't speak Californian, of course.
I was referring to a distinct shield on that green sign. "the 65" is an unambiguous abbreviation for "the Interstate 65 highway marker". :sombrero:
Once again thanks for the information guys as I used it to update the local paper.
Couple months ago found another Indiana I-64 sign in Crawford County but it was in really, really poor shape.
Quote from: RoadWarrior56 on January 25, 2011, 06:49:04 PM
Good luck finding US 460 signs. US 460 was decommissioned in Indiana in November of 1976, well over 30 yrs ago. Much of US 460 was also on the Lincoln Heritage Trail, so sign assemblies had US 460, SR 62 and a Lincoln Heritage Trail sign. There were also a lot of classic 1940's spec cutout shields along that roadway well into the 1970's. I needed my digital camera when I was a teen back there, hahaha, I could had taken pictures.
Two bits of trivia about US 460 in Indiana. It was only commissioned west of its current terminus in the early 50's from what I had read, so it was only around in Indiana and Illinois for approximately 25 yrs. It has been gone longer than it was ever here. Also, the only section of US 460 in the State of Indiana that was not a duplex with another route was about 5 miles of the Diamond Avenue Expressway on the north side of Evansville. The rest of it was either duplexed with SR 62 or SR 66. That made it a real easy route number to decommission.
Funny, I still find myself scanning the roadside when I take SR 62, hoping to find something left from US 460. There was a barn a few miles into Illinois from New Harmony that was painted for Meramec Caverns, with a "stay on US 460 to US 66". I am not sure if it is still there, no easy way to get on that section with the bridge closed at New Harmony.
I always thought that was a pretty quick decommision. Has there been another US route in Indiana completely decommissioned in the last 50 years? I would think US 150 would be a better candidate. It meanders across the state with no real purpose or direction, most of the time duplexing with US 41 or 50.
Quote from: rmsandw on January 25, 2011, 11:49:09 PM
What I always found interesting about this sign is that being in Chicago it has "Indiana" on the shields. Plus, what shield use to be on it. You can see the outlines of other shields in the background.
This is discussed more in detail on the "Distant Interstate Trailblazers" thread, found in the Traffic Control sub-forum. In short, we believe the sign originally had just I-80 and I-90 shields, with I-65 and I-94 added soon after. It's in the realm of possibility that I-94 was one of the original two, depending on how old the sign is...but not too likely.
Regarding I-64, I find it interesting that I-64 was worked at the ends and met in the middle. That's very cool if you ask me. I passed I-64 every time I made my travels to Tennessee, but I hope to find a reason - any reason - to drive the Indiana portion of I-64. I've heard nothing but good things about that stretch.
Quote from: Captain Jack on March 05, 2013, 11:04:53 PM
Quote from: RoadWarrior56 on January 25, 2011, 06:49:04 PM
Good luck finding US 460 signs. US 460 was decommissioned in Indiana in November of 1976, well over 30 yrs ago. Much of US 460 was also on the Lincoln Heritage Trail, so sign assemblies had US 460, SR 62 and a Lincoln Heritage Trail sign. There were also a lot of classic 1940's spec cutout shields along that roadway well into the 1970's. I needed my digital camera when I was a teen back there, hahaha, I could had taken pictures.
Two bits of trivia about US 460 in Indiana. It was only commissioned west of its current terminus in the early 50's from what I had read, so it was only around in Indiana and Illinois for approximately 25 yrs. It has been gone longer than it was ever here. Also, the only section of US 460 in the State of Indiana that was not a duplex with another route was about 5 miles of the Diamond Avenue Expressway on the north side of Evansville. The rest of it was either duplexed with SR 62 or SR 66. That made it a real easy route number to decommission.
Funny, I still find myself scanning the roadside when I take SR 62, hoping to find something left from US 460. There was a barn a few miles into Illinois from New Harmony that was painted for Meramec Caverns, with a "stay on US 460 to US 66". I am not sure if it is still there, no easy way to get on that section with the bridge closed at New Harmony.
I always thought that was a pretty quick decommision. Has there been another US route in Indiana completely decommissioned in the last 50 years? I would think US 150 would be a better candidate. It meanders across the state with no real purpose or direction, most of the time duplexing with US 41 or 50.
There is a pretty sizable stretch of US 150 from New Albany to Sholas that is not duplexed with anything, except for a brief segment near Paoli that is also IN 56.
Quote from: nwi_navigator_1181 on March 05, 2013, 11:55:50 PM
Regarding I-64, I find it interesting that I-64 was worked at the ends and met in the middle. That's very cool if you ask me. I passed I-64 every time I made my travels to Tennessee, but I hope to find a reason - any reason - to drive the Indiana portion of I-64. I've heard nothing but good things about that stretch.
In short, it's unlike any other interstate in Indiana (although stretches of I-74 in the far southeast aren't bad and I-65 approaching Louisville could be worse.) After years of driving I-65 and I-69 in the north, driving I-64 in the south makes you almost forget that you're still in Indiana.
Quote from: tdindy88 on March 06, 2013, 06:10:13 PM
Quote from: nwi_navigator_1181 on March 05, 2013, 11:55:50 PM
Regarding I-64, I find it interesting that I-64 was worked at the ends and met in the middle. That's very cool if you ask me. I passed I-64 every time I made my travels to Tennessee, but I hope to find a reason - any reason - to drive the Indiana portion of I-64. I've heard nothing but good things about that stretch.
In short, it's unlike any other interstate in Indiana (although stretches of I-74 in the far southeast aren't bad and I-65 approaching Louisville could be worse.) After years of driving I-65 and I-69 in the north, driving I-64 in the south makes you almost forget that you're still in Indiana.
I-64 is by far the best interstate in Indiana. I was hoping for similar results for I-69, but unfortunately, the open section resembles the rest of I-69 in Indiana. The terrain gets better for the yet to be completed section before Bloomington, but I am sure with all the environmental protest, we won't see much in terms of median seperations and other scenic enhancements.
If you get a chance to hit I-64 east of Evansville to Louisville go for it. Very wide and not overly traveled with lots of good views.