IN: US 31 South Bend to Plymouth Upgrade report

[silverback1065]

anyone know if the old alignment (the part that couldn't be transferred) will be signed as a state road?  Also, why is the ribbon cutting after the opening of the road?

[ysuindy]

anyone know if the old alignment (the part that couldn't be transferred) will be signed as a state road?  Also, why is the ribbon cutting after the opening of the road?

I'm sure they needed to get the politicians schedules aligned.  I'm glad they aren't delaying the opening for this to be scheduled.  After all, neither one of them was in office when this project started.

[theline]

Here is a more detailed story from the South Bend Tribune, with a photo array. The first photo is the most interesting, showing asphalt with striping. I had assumed the entire route would be concrete, though maybe that will still happen. The other photos look like the writer emptied out the file photos on this, since they all look like they are from an earlier phase of construction. The two maps are informative though.

http://www.southbendtribune.com/news/new-u-s-from-south-bend-to-plymouth-set-to/article_6252433f-de47-5c4a-ab5c-9bcb3daf4877.html

I'll try to get out there after work on Thursday and report back.

[theline]

Here's a related story about impact on the two small towns bypassed by the new road, Lakeville and Lapaz: http://www.southbendtribune.com/news/lakeville-lapaz-face-future-without-u-s/article_3063c37e-bf6a-5389-a2f1-2a224e1d635b.html

Denny Hardy, owner of Jack's Bar and Grill in Lakeville, thinks his restaurant will continue to see business, no matter if U.S. 31 traffic is going past his front door or looping outside of town.

"Most of our customers here are regulars,"  Hardy said. "We get maybe just a few people a week that stop in when they're passing through."

However, Bob Feitz, a lifetime Lakeville resident and president of the Lakeville Economic Development Board, said that the new U.S. 31 pathway could be a problem for Lakeville if there's no signage along the new road to show travelers what Lakeville has to offer.

"I think there will be an impact," Feitz said. "Whether it's good or bad, well that depends on who you are. For some, it will be quieter and they will be happier. For those who have a business, it depends. If you have a filling station or a restaurant, it could hurt."

I think the impact will be mostly positive, for the reasons cited by Hardy. Few businesses in these towns depend on travelers. The exceptions are mostly the cluster of gas stations and fast food restaurants at the intersection of US 6 and (old) 31. They are close enough to the new road and there's enough traffic on 6 that they will likely survive.

[mukade]

Here is a more detailed story from the South Bend Tribune, with a photo array. The first photo is the most interesting, showing asphalt with striping. I had assumed the entire route would be concrete, though maybe that will still happen. The other photos look like the writer emptied out the file photos on this, since they all look like they are from an earlier phase of construction. The two maps are informative though.

http://www.southbendtribune.com/news/new-u-s-from-south-bend-to-plymouth-set-to/article_6252433f-de47-5c4a-ab5c-9bcb3daf4877.html

I'll try to get out there after work on Thursday and report back.

My daughter drove from South bend to Argos on Sunday and said that the south end tie-in is also asphalt pavement. If I remember right, at least one other part in the middle is also asphalt as the route went over a boggy area.

[NWI_Irish96]

Posted by INDOT on their Facebook page:

Crews will begin shifting traffic to the new alignment of U.S. 31 sometime after 9 a.m. If you're in the area you may be slowed or stopped as crews move barricades, allowing drivers onto the new lanes.

Your best bet is to avoid access points for the new U.S. 31 until after 1 p.m., when the traffic shift is expected to be complete.

Look, this is dangerous work, shifting traffic of this volume at five access points, across a 20+ mile stretch, all at the same time. It takes time. Please slow down and stay alert for the safety of both our workers and for the drivers.

[ysuindy]

And its open - posted around 9:05 on INDOT Northwest Twitter page - with a Vine attached

https://twitter.com/INDOTNorthwest/status/502441402115297280

[ysuindy]

WNDU traveled old 31 on Wednesday and new 31 on Thursday.  Their test showed a time savings of 13 minutes.

http://www.wndu.com/home/headlines/Travel-time-test-run-on-new-US-31-272247061.html

[tdindy88]

No Hoosier I know of refers to highways like Route 4 or Route 6. For my part, I hope on taking a trip up to Michigan over Labor Day so I'll be checking out this new stretch a week from now.

[theline]

Mrs. theline and I drove the new route on the first evening it was open. She asked if we got a special award for being "first nighters." Alas, no.

Some observations:

• Most of the signage has been installed, though the BGSes on the southbound side for the US-6 exit are almost all missing. There isn't even a temporary sign mentioning what route is at that exit.
• We saw no blue services signs at any exit yet. Presumably they will follow.
• Heading south from the north end, the first speed limit sign was posted as 60 MPH. The limit increased to 65 just south of the Kern Road exit, and it remained there for the rest of the route.
• The Kern Road SPUI is currently controlled with stop signs. I don't know when, but they will be replaced with signals.
• On the northbound side next to the Kern Road exit ramp is a BGS announcing that the US-20 exit is 1-1/2 miles away. It's a very odd placement for the sign and may be confusing. An overhead would have been much preferable.
• The temporary two-lane portion at the south end of the project was surprisingly long, consisting of almost the entire portion north of US-30 to the point where the new alignment splits from the old.
• So much remains to be done with the 7th Road exit that it hard to believe that it will be open this year. We shall see if they meet the goal.

Mrs. theline took some photos. After I get a chance to upload them, I'll post a link. We had dinner at Christo's in Plymouth, at SR-17 and US-30. We recommend it enthusiastically. The menu is extensive, the food delicious, and the prices reasonable.

[theline]

I've posted to Imgur 62 photos taken by mrs. theline during our opening night drive south on the new road. It was a rainy evening and she's not a great photographer (I'm no better), so excuse the quality. Here are some samples:


It seems that the lane now occupied by mainline traffic will become "exit only."


Sign is just south of Kern Rd. The limit increases to 65 a bit south of there.


This is the bottom half of the BGS announcing that the US-6 exit is one-half mile ahead. The top half of the sign here is missing. We saw no signs anywhere indicating that route 6 was at this exit, though we may have missed the sign at the one-mile mark. Except for this exit, signage was mostly complete.

You can find all 62 images at my Imgur page: http://theline51.imgur.com/ Enjoy!

[mukade]

I went up Saturday during slightly better weather. I would say that this new road really made the trip feel shorter (I drove ~90 miles). There are a lot of signs on this stretch that US 31 Kokomo and I-69 did not get (mileage, auxiliary, etc.). These are some of my pictures:


Northbound approaching Kern Road


Westbound Kern Road at US 31 - the traffic lights are still not in


Southbound ramp to Kern Road


Northbound approaching US 20


Northbound at the north end - off to the right you can see some of the old pavement has already been removed


Northbound at the south tie-in


Northbound at US 6

[ysuindy]

I went through today on a round trip to Notre Dame.  No pictures but some observations:

The line - I also saw no reference of US 6 travelling southbound except the strange Walksrton 1/2 mile sign.

The bridge over the old highway identified the road below as Old US 31

The old road pavement at the north end has been substantially removed.  I'm not sure when they transitioned traffic of this stretch, but if it was this week they got a lot accomplished.

Single lane traffic at the south end was 4 1/2 miles .

I don't see how the 7th Road interchange gets done by year end.  The steel beams for the bridge are set only across the now closed southbound lanes.  It seems as if only minimal grading of the exit ramps has been completed.

I was struck by the overgrown weeds in the median for the first five miles or so at the south end.  Of course much of this part of the project has been done for a few years.

For the most part the new section, much like the Kokomo bypass, is a pretty boring drive.  Not that there's anything wrong with that. 

[theline]

Single lane traffic at the south end was 4 1/2 miles .

I was really struck by how long that lane restriction lasted. That's going to be a big-time bottleneck when traffic is heavy, like on Notre Dame game days.

For the most part the new section, much like the Kokomo bypass, is a pretty boring drive.  Not that there's anything wrong with that.

To each his own, I guess. The mrs. pointed out how pretty the semi-rolling farmland, punctuated with trees, can be. I agreed. Of course, anybody driving from Indy has seen plenty of farmland by the time you reach Plymouth.

One more observation: there is a short causeway near Lakeville. Such structures usually get a sign indicating the name of the waterway. This road is no exception, though INDOT was hard-pressed to come up with a name. The sign reads "Peat Area."

[silverback1065]

so is the old alignment signed as anything? or is it just old us 31?  i think they should call it michigan road. and sign the part that still is owned by indot as sr 931

[ysuindy]

Single lane traffic at the south end was 4 1/2 miles .

I was really struck by how long that lane restriction lasted. That's going to be a big-time bottleneck when traffic is heavy, like on Notre Dame game days.

For the most part the new section, much like the Kokomo bypass, is a pretty boring drive.  Not that there's anything wrong with that.

To each his own, I guess. The mrs. pointed out how pretty the semi-rolling farmland, punctuated with trees, can be. I agreed. Of course, anybody driving from Indy has seen plenty of farmland by the time you reach Plymouth.

One more observation: there is a short causeway near Lakeville. Such structures usually get a sign indicating the name of the waterway. This road is no exception, though INDOT was hard-pressed to come up with a name. The sign reads "Peat Area."

I will be curious on how the single lane aspect works Saturday before and after the game.  I'm more concerned about getting stuck at the north end than the south end.  Typically things are thinned out down around US 6 and Plymouth - we will see how it works. 

I can say I've never seen a "Peat Area" signed on a highway before. 

Yes - by the time I've reached Plymouth I have seen about 90 minutes of farmland and I know I have 90 more minutes of it on my way home.  But both bypasses are preferred to the traffic signals, cars jumping from lane to lane, narrow road in Lakeville, traffic turning and speed traps. 

so is the old alignment signed as anything? or is it just old us 31?  i think they should call it michigan road. and sign the part that still is owned by indot as sr 931

There was nothing marked at the Kern Road exit as to how the old road might be signed.  Trying to figure out how to avoid the squeeze at the South Bend end of the connection after the Notre Dame game Saturday.  I might try to take one of the other North-South roads down to Kern and cut over to pick up the new road South of the single lane section.  If I do, I will try to get a look and see if there is any updated signage.

[DJStephens]

Excellent pics, imho.  what is the reason for the "extended" pier cap in the sixth picture, is that for future widening, or is it to provide for some sort of non standard interchange (not a diamond) at that location, a SPUI for instance?   Notice also that the INDOT uses the standard "font" for its signs.  The quality of the overall project looks very good from these pictures. 

[tdindy88]

That interchange (Kern Rd.) is a SPUI. Admittedly, I've never seen a SPUI with stop signs instead of stoplights before but I know that's only temporary. 

[silverback1065]

Excellent pics, imho.  what is the reason for the "extended" pier cap in the sixth picture, is that for future widening, or is it to provide for some sort of non standard interchange (not a diamond) at that location, a SPUI for instance?   Notice also that the INDOT uses the standard "font" for its signs.  The quality of the overall project looks very good from these pictures.

that interchange is a SPUI. It's not done yet though, still missing the traffic lights and some signs i believe

[NWI_Irish96]

There was nothing marked at the Kern Road exit as to how the old road might be signed.  Trying to figure out how to avoid the squeeze at the South Bend end of the connection after the Notre Dame game Saturday.  I might try to take one of the other North-South roads down to Kern and cut over to pick up the new road South of the single lane section.  If I do, I will try to get a look and see if there is any updated signage.

The least traveled through southbound road after a game is Twyckenham.  Eddy to the west and Ironwood to the east get much more traffic.  If you can make your way to Twyckenham, take it all the way south.  Once you get past Ewing, it starts winding a bit and by the time it ends at Ridgedale, you're only a short block east of Miami.  Miami then gets you down to Kern. 

[Henry]

As I previously stated, this would make a great I-67!

[ysuindy]

There was nothing marked at the Kern Road exit as to how the old road might be signed.  Trying to figure out how to avoid the squeeze at the South Bend end of the connection after the Notre Dame game Saturday.  I might try to take one of the other North-South roads down to Kern and cut over to pick up the new road South of the single lane section.  If I do, I will try to get a look and see if there is any updated signage.

The least traveled through southbound road after a game is Twyckenham.  Eddy to the west and Ironwood to the east get much more traffic.  If you can make your way to Twyckenham, take it all the way south.  Once you get past Ewing, it starts winding a bit and by the time it ends at Ridgedale, you're only a short block east of Miami.  Miami then gets you down to Kern. 

Thanks.  I typically park on the street in the neighborhood south of Angela, west of Notre Dame Avenue.  Usually along Peashway or Napoleon.  Looks like my key is getting across Eddy / South Bend Avenue to Twyckenham. 

[silverback1065]

As I previously stated, this would make a great I-67!

you will likely get your wish in like 30 yrs.

[NWI_Irish96]

There was nothing marked at the Kern Road exit as to how the old road might be signed.  Trying to figure out how to avoid the squeeze at the South Bend end of the connection after the Notre Dame game Saturday.  I might try to take one of the other North-South roads down to Kern and cut over to pick up the new road South of the single lane section.  If I do, I will try to get a look and see if there is any updated signage.

The least traveled through southbound road after a game is Twyckenham.  Eddy to the west and Ironwood to the east get much more traffic.  If you can make your way to Twyckenham, take it all the way south.  Once you get past Ewing, it starts winding a bit and by the time it ends at Ridgedale, you're only a short block east of Miami.  Miami then gets you down to Kern. 

Thanks.  I typically park on the street in the neighborhood south of Angela, west of Notre Dame Avenue.  Usually along Peashway or Napoleon.  Looks like my key is getting across Eddy / South Bend Avenue to Twyckenham. 

I almost always park east of Eddy, so I haven't driven out of that neighborhood after a game in a long time.  If you can go south on St. Louis, that turns into Northside Blvd south of Jefferson.  Northside actually passes along the river under Eddy St., so you never have to cross Eddy.  At the Farmer's market, you can turn left on Beyer and it's just one block over to Mishawaka Ave.  That gets you over to Twyckenham right at Adams High/IUSB.  Like I said, this is all dependent on being allowed to go south on St. Louis.  Otherwise you're better off just going on over to Michigan to go south and then cutting directly over to Miami along Monroe/Lincolnway.

[tdindy88]

Just found this from a South Bend TV station about the future of Old US 31.

http://www.wsbt.com/news/local/several-counties-cities-look-to-rename-old-us-31/27759332

According to the article, the stretch in Marshall County will be Michigan Road and in St. Joseph County will be 931, it doesn't say if it's State Road 931, but it would be the first I heard about another stretch of 931. I'm not honestly sure why the whole thing couldn't be Michigan Road, it matches up with the road's alignment down to Plymouth and up into South Bend.