US 31 Hamilton County, Indiana

[silverback1065]

according to INDOT "substantial completion is December 2015" 

[silverback1065]

it looks like 116th st is closed now, that's going to be a traffic hazard.  The 4way stop at 111th and college will likely be an ordeal.  If at area was annexed years ago, it would have been a roundabout.  Big mistake by Home Place not letting themselves get annexed by Carmel. 

[cjw2001]

111th overpass has been open since Sunday, so the smart traffic will avoid College and use 111th or Carmel Drive to get to Illinois Street on the other side of US 31 and/or use US 31 to exit at Old Meridian.

http://us31hamiltoncounty.in.gov/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/1275-116th-Penn-Streets-Detour_noBar_V4.jpg

[Bulldozerman]

on northbound US 31, there's a 45 MPH speed limit in areas with some construction still ongoing (465 up to 161st street), then a 40 MPH speed light for areas where construction is done (161st street up to 38).  How on earth does that make sense?

[silverback1065]

on northbound US 31, there's a 45 MPH speed limit in areas with some construction still ongoing (465 up to 161st street), then a 40 MPH speed light for areas where construction is done (161st street up to 38).  How on earth does that make sense?

no idea, but it's not permanent.

[silverback1065]

new ramp from EB 465 to NB US 31 has been paved and part of the approach has been built.  one of the bridges on the flyover (one going over 31) appears to be pretty far along.  the other bridge not even close.  Bridge beams will be placed at 106th st this week. 116th st beams have been mostly placed.  every road is open that is supposed to be right now except 116th and Pennsylvania.  Hopefully this asphalt issue is resolved and surface is placed at all the completed areas.  Not sure when the lane config will go away at SB 31 to SB KP 

[silverback1065]

Us 31 in Westfield will be completely done by November, only minor offline stuff will be done. All lanes will be open and the new speed limit will be posted as well. Look for lane closures at SR 32 and 31 until they finish that area. According to indot the contract will be complete next month in Westfield. http://currentinwestfield.com/2015/u-s-31-construction-nears-end-in-westfield/

[bmeiser]

That's totally doable.  Drove through there yesterday and they were putting the top layer of pavement down on the southbound lanes and on the southbound exit ramps at 191st St.  They were about 25% done with that.  They'll be done with that by the end of the week.  The northbound lanes and all exits are fully open.  There's still some work to do at 196th Street and at a local business where they recently closed off access to 31.  They're working on removing the pavement from the crossovers in the medians and it looks like they're about to plant a bunch of plants.  They'll still have some signage and lighting work to do.  The bridges all need permanent lines painted on them.

As for Carmel, the 116th street bridge seems significantly farther along than 106th street.  All beams are laid and the approaches are paved.  106th doesn't even have the northbound pier finished.  The EB 465 - NB 31 ramp needs a lot of bridge work.  The old SB lanes between 96th and 103rd are torn out but that's about it.  The final layer of pavement still needs to be laid between Old Meridian and the 146th St area and both sides are still down to 2 lanes in this area.  They're finally going to put the top layer of pavement down at the 131st and 136th street interchanges over the next few days.  Landscaping operations at these interchanges are supposed to be done by the end of November. If the Carmel section is fully open by the end of the year, I'd be shocked.

[silverback1065]

That's totally doable.  Drove through there yesterday and they were putting the top layer of pavement down on the southbound lanes and on the southbound exit ramps at 191st St.  They were about 25% done with that.  They'll be done with that by the end of the week.  The northbound lanes and all exits are fully open.  There's still some work to do at 196th Street and at a local business where they recently closed off access to 31.  They're working on removing the pavement from the crossovers in the medians and it looks like they're about to plant a bunch of plants.  They'll still have some signage and lighting work to do.  The bridges all need permanent lines painted on them.

As for Carmel, the 116th street bridge seems significantly farther along than 106th street.  All beams are laid and the approaches are paved.  106th doesn't even have the northbound pier finished.  The EB 465 - NB 31 ramp needs a lot of bridge work.  The old SB lanes between 96th and 103rd are torn out but that's about it.  The final layer of pavement still needs to be laid between Old Meridian and the 146th St area and both sides are still down to 2 lanes in this area.  They're finally going to put the top layer of pavement down at the 131st and 136th street interchanges over the next few days.  Landscaping operations at these interchanges are supposed to be done by the end of November. If the Carmel section is fully open by the end of the year, I'd be shocked.

It would be wonderful if they could at least finish the flyover at 465!

[monty]

According to the INDOT commissioner, the entire Hamilton County segment will be "open to traffic" in 2015. She also used the word "drivable."  Insinuating that the project will be complete enough to be driven upon as intended with some finishing touches to be complete in 2016.


iPhone

[bmeiser]

http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs123/1112548744559/archive/1122502986124.html

While some construction in this area is expected to continue into 2016, work is on schedule to meet the goal of having all ramps and interchanges open, and free-flowing freeway traffic on US 31 north of I-465 by the end of this year.

[bmeiser]

All lanes of US 31 in Westfield will be open by tomorrow!  There will be 6 lanes between 146th and 32 and 4 lanes between 32 and 38. Speed limit will still be 40 until INDOT and local law enforcement "determine the safest time to adjust the speed limit to the final 55 mph zone".  So... people will continue to fly through there at 80.

Additionally, the final layer of pavement will go in this week between Old Meridian and just north of 136th St.  I wonder if they'll open the 3rd lane in this area once that's complete?  If so, US 31 will be fully open/completed between Old Meridian and 38, save for a few signs and some minor aesthetic things.

They still plan to have the 106th Street and 116th Street interchanges open this year.  I went through on Sunday and they still have a lot of work to do at both interchanges.  Not as much as they have left on the 465 interchange which "is on schedule to have all ramps open and accommodate free-flowing... traffic by the end of the year".  That flyover is still a bridge to nowhere on both sides.

http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs123/1112548744559/archive/1122644933100.html

[silverback1065]

All lanes of US 31 in Westfield will be open by tomorrow!  There will be 6 lanes between 146th and 32 and 4 lanes between 32 and 38. Speed limit will still be 40 until INDOT and local law enforcement "determine the safest time to adjust the speed limit to the final 55 mph zone".  So... people will continue to fly through there at 80.

Additionally, the final layer of pavement will go in this week between Old Meridian and just north of 136th St.  I wonder if they'll open the 3rd lane in this area once that's complete?  If so, US 31 will be fully open/completed between Old Meridian and 38, save for a few signs and some minor aesthetic things.

They still plan to have the 106th Street and 116th Street interchanges open this year.  I went through on Sunday and they still have a lot of work to do at both interchanges.  Not as much as they have left on the 465 interchange which "is on schedule to have all ramps open and accommodate free-flowing... traffic by the end of the year".  That flyover is still a bridge to nowhere on both sides.

http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs123/1112548744559/archive/1122644933100.html

Mainline 31 @ 465 was paved earlier this week, they may cross over traffic soon to do the other side. Main and 136th are paved, most signs are up and landscaping continues. It really angers me that the final speed limit is going to be 55 it should be 65. Doesn't matter anyway, noone will go 55 to begin with.

[bmeiser]

Wow, they paved by 465 fast!  It was just graded dirt when I went by on Sunday.  Wonder if they will open the new EB 465 to SB Meridian ramp when they switch traffic over if they need to wait for the flyover to be done for some reason to do that.

I saw that they had finished paving the Main and 136th street interchanges last week so I figured mainline paving was next.  I've been going by weekly and have been amazed at how fast they've been progressing lately.

[ysuindy]

The weather has certainly been ideal for road construction.  0.19 inches of rain so far in October, 1.70 inches in September and 1.55 inches in August.   Average for each month is 3.12 or 3.13 inches.

[silverback1065]

the closed 3rd lane of 31 is paved from main st north, and e&b is still out there, so i'm assuming lots of paving tonight.

[theline]

Official INDOT press release on the opening of the Westfield portion yesterday, the first part of which sounds like a brochure issued by the Westfield Tourist Office: http://content.govdelivery.com/bulletins/gd/INDOT-120a7a5

I assume the 15 minutes of travel time saved between Westfield and Indy will happen when the whole project through Carmel and onto 465 is done.

Farther down are some interesting facts and figures:

When the final six-mile contract in Carmel is open to traffic, a total of 32 traffic signals will have been removed from U.S. 31 between Indianapolis and South Bend, increasing safety and saving a half hour of travel time.

INDOT plans to open bids in November for a new U.S. 31 interchange to replace the traffic signal at State Road 28 near Tipton.  Construction of the roundabout interchange is anticipated to begin early next year, and should open to traffic by the end of 2016.

I think the 30 minute reduction in travel time may be an underestimate.

[silverback1065]

Official INDOT press release on the opening of the Westfield portion yesterday, the first part of which sounds like a brochure issued by the Westfield Tourist Office: http://content.govdelivery.com/bulletins/gd/INDOT-120a7a5

I assume the 15 minutes of travel time saved between Westfield and Indy will happen when the whole project through Carmel and onto 465 is done.

Farther down are some interesting facts and figures:

When the final six-mile contract in Carmel is open to traffic, a total of 32 traffic signals will have been removed from U.S. 31 between Indianapolis and South Bend, increasing safety and saving a half hour of travel time.

INDOT plans to open bids in November for a new U.S. 31 interchange to replace the traffic signal at State Road 28 near Tipton.  Construction of the roundabout interchange is anticipated to begin early next year, and should open to traffic by the end of 2016.

I think the 30 minute reduction in travel time may be an underestimate.

When you factor in the real speed people will drive at, it will be much more time saved than what they're saying.

[bmeiser]

Speaking of speed: drove through yesterday after work and the speed limit is already 55 in both directions north of 146th.  For once, I was actually passing people.  Seems people didn't notice the new speed limit and were strangely police-cautious.

[silverback1065]

Speaking of speed: drove through yesterday after work and the speed limit is already 55 in both directions north of 146th.  For once, I was actually passing people.  Seems people didn't notice the new speed limit and were strangely police-cautious.

They'll be out in full force I suspect. Watch out they love to hide under the 166th st bridge.

[rickmeck]

I completely agree. It used to take me five hours to get from Grand Rapids to the south side of Indianapolis. Now I can do it three hours and 45 minutes.

I think the 30 minute reduction in travel time may be an underestimate.
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[silverback1065]

E&b was paving like crazy over the weekend surface is on 2 out of 3 lanes, mainline 31 near 465 will get curb and gutter this week. The ramp to 465 is mostly open now, and the barrier wall should be poured soon on the flyover. Does anyone know why there's a random section of concrete just north of the old meridian exit? I assume it will be covered with asphalt soon.

[silverback1065]

111th overpass has been open since Sunday, so the smart traffic will avoid College and use 111th or Carmel Drive to get to Illinois Street on the other side of US 31 and/or use US 31 to exit at Old Meridian.

http://us31hamiltoncounty.in.gov/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/1275-116th-Penn-Streets-Detour_noBar_V4.jpg

So according to the carmel paper, there is a temporary signal at 111th and college.  I think the only reason why that intersection isn't a roundabout is because that intersection isn't in carmel.

[AsphaltPlanet]

I was on US-31 last week en route to Nashville.  I took some southbound photos:

[silverback1065]

They've been paving like crazy the past few days, even overnight.