US 31 Hamilton County, Indiana

[cjw2001]

I've now updated Google Maps to set the entire length of the reconstructed US 31 to freeway priority.  Northbound edit approved, southbound edit still pending approval.  Still have more work to do to get all the ramps marked with the correct priority and still have some segments showing up as closed that I'm working on getting marked as completed.   Also need to make some priority and name adjustments on Meridian Street south of where the freeway ends.  Edits on high priority roads can take some time to get approved but we are getting there.

Now doing the back and forth dance with Google on whether this is a Freeway or not.      Was all approved for Freeway and then reverted this afternoon.   Now have 1/2 back as freeway and waiting on approval on the other half.  So don't be surprised to see it 1/2 freeway color and 1/2 non freeway on Google Maps tomorrow.   I have the advantage of persistence, after getting one bad google moderator the next one that reviews is likely to be better.  Likely it will be Monday before it's fixed since they don't usually review on the weekends.

When I drove the westbound exit from 465 tonight it was opened back up to two lanes.  More progress.

[dfwmapper]

IMO, the only fix I can think of is to make US 52 concurrent with I-65 to US 24 at Remington, and US 52 between US 41 and Lafayette can either be a rerouted US 231 or given a state route number.

2 separate problems here. One is that Google Map Maker is a buggy piece of crap that allows edits to get stuck in a state where they can't be approved, undone, or deleted but still block other changes to the same attributes. The other is that Indiana doesn't have a way to designate a state route over a road that isn't owned by the state. The optimal solution would have been to transfer Sagamore to the locals but leave US 52 designated over it. I guess there's a third problem, that AASHTO let them do it instead of telling them they had to leave it on a good route like Sagamore or reroute it away from Lafayette.

[silverback1065]

I see google maps has effectively fucked up 31 now. 

[cjw2001]

I see google maps has effectively fucked up 31 now.

It is all there, just the priority on Northbound is set wrong (as I mentioned above).  A change is pending approval to set it back to correct priority.

103rd street is gone now, the southbound approach to Meridian has been changed to an exit ramp, and the highway interchange segments are now the correct priority so those are rendering with the right colors.   Two steps forward one step back.   Making changes on something this complex is a marathon not a sprint as each change requires approvals.   Occasionally a clueless google editor will make things incorrect (like reverting the priority back to National Highway from Freeway).  In the end, we will get it where it needs to be.

[cjw2001]

US 31 is now set at Expressway priority in Google Maps which is close enough for now.

I'll make another run at setting it to Freeway priority once the final ramps open.

[cjw2001]

Northbound Meridian to 106th street ramp is open in the final position now.  Updated in Google Maps but likely won't be visible until tomorrow.

[hoosierguy]

I've now updated Google Maps to set the entire length of the reconstructed US 31 to freeway priority.  Northbound edit approved, southbound edit still pending approval.  Still have more work to do to get all the ramps marked with the correct priority and still have some segments showing up as closed that I'm working on getting marked as completed.   Also need to make some priority and name adjustments on Meridian Street south of where the freeway ends.  Edits on high priority roads can take some time to get approved but we are getting there.

Now doing the back and forth dance with Google on whether this is a Freeway or not.      Was all approved for Freeway and then reverted this afternoon.   Now have 1/2 back as freeway and waiting on approval on the other half.  So don't be surprised to see it 1/2 freeway color and 1/2 non freeway on Google Maps tomorrow.   I have the advantage of persistence, after getting one bad google moderator the next one that reviews is likely to be better.  Likely it will be Monday before it's fixed since they don't usually review on the weekends.

When I drove the westbound exit from 465 tonight it was opened back up to two lanes.  More progress.

Could you end the freeway designation at 96th Street for Keystone Avenue? Google maps currently shows Keystone as a freeway all the way down to 86th Street. Thanks.

[cjw2001]

Keystone is not set as Freeway.  It is set to Expressway, which allows for a few isolated stop lights along the path.  The current path meets Google's definition for Expressway priority.

[hoosierguy]

Keystone is not set as Freeway.  It is set to Expressway, which allows for a few isolated stop lights along the path.  The current path meets Google's definition for Expressway priority.

It looks identical to a freeway. If that is the standard for expressway then why isn't SR 67 around Muncie red? Or U.S. 231 south of I-64? Or SR 641? Or the Vincennes bypass? Or SR 25 between Lafayette and Logansport? Or the Airport Expressway? Or South Shadeland? Rand McNally colors these roads the same freeways.

It's simply irritating that freeways and expressways are the same color in Google Maps.

[cjw2001]

From Google's definition for Expressway "Accessible from both ramps and intersections, although intersections should be relatively rare and widely spaced."

For 67, at grade intersections are frequent.  For Keystone Parkway intersections are limited to 96th and 1/2 the ramps at 465.

[mukade]

From Google's definition for Expressway "Accessible from both ramps and intersections, although intersections should be relatively rare and widely spaced."

For 67, at grade intersections are frequent.  For Keystone Parkway intersections are limited to 96th and 1/2 the ramps at 465.

The examples suggested by hoosierguy all meet the expressway definition you cited. The part of SR 67 he is referring to is the old SR 67 interchange all the way up to McGalliard Road. That is a mix of interchanges and a few intersections. I would maintain US 41 around Vincennes is a freeway. SR 641 is absolutely a freeway as is a good chunk of the Lloyd Expressway in Evansville. You can easily confirm these in satellite view. It might be worth comparing what the Rand McNally road atlas and the official state map show as a good sanity check.

[bmeiser]

Hoosier heartland fits this as well.

Nexus 7

[cjw2001]

Just drove by the new ramp for 465 westbound to us 31 northbound -- the current exit was temporarily down to one lane while operations were in progress to put down the lane markings for the new exit.  I'd say opening of the new ramp is eminent, maybe yet today. 

[cjw2001]

Confirmed


I-465 ramps to northbound US 31 opening today, Dec. 29

Crews are currently working to open the new free-flowing ramps from eastbound and westbound I-465 to northbound US 31. Click here to see an illustration of the new US 31/I-465 interchange with these ramp movements.

After opening these ramps, all lanes and interchanges on the new US 31 Hamilton County freeway will be open to traffic in the final configurations.

• The new eastbound I-465 ramp to northbound US 31 exits to the right and carries traffic on a flyover bridge over Meridian Street and I-465 before merging with northbound US 31.
• The new westbound I-465 ramp to northbound US 31 bypasses the traffic signal and is located to the right of the current ramp.
• Motorists exiting I-465 to southbound Meridian Street will use the left sides of the exit ramps, which will be modified for additional capacity.

Traffic on northbound Meridian Street exiting to 106th Street now follows a new ramp that passes underneath the two new ramps opening today, eliminating weaving and merging in the heavily traveled area.

Final work on US 31 continues in 2016

Construction along the corridor is expected to continue in 2016 as crews complete the US 31/Meridian Street transition underneath I-465 and the roundabouts on 106th and 116th streets under US 31.

The speed limit between I-465 and Old Meridian Street will remain 45 mph through the work zone. The speed limit north of Old Meridian Street is 55 mph.

[silverback1065]

yes! so happy for the new flyover to be open! 

[bmeiser]

The new ramps are nice. Traffic flows really well. The merge with 106th is pretty smooth too

Nexus 7

[cjw2001]

US 31 is now set at Expressway priority in Google Maps which is close enough for now.

I'll make another run at setting it to Freeway priority once the final ramps open.

Well my objection to the change from Freeway to Expressway was finally reviewed by Google and it is back to Freeway priority now. 

[Buck87]

Nice to see this project nearing completion.

Makes me jealous that the same type of thing hasn't happened for US 23 on the north side of Columbus. Though when comparing those 2 situations I see they are pretty much the inverse of each other. The US 31 corridor will now have two different freeway options to get to the outerbelt, but no direct route freeway connection from there to downtown, while the US 23 corridor has no freeway connection to the outerbelt but does have 2 different easily accessible freeway options to downtown.

[silverback1065]

I think the next project INDOT needs to do is widen 465 from 86th to US 31 to 8 lanes.  The 421 interchange needs to be redone, and the new ramp from SB 31 to WB 465 is causing merging problems during rush hour. 

[tdindy88]

That has to be coming eventually. But INDOT is already planning on doing some widening from I-865 to Michigan Road plus the upcoming project involving 465 and 69 and road widening involved there. They may feel that doing road work there might be "too much" for north siders at the time. But I've been thinking it for years, all of 465 should be eight lanes.

[silverback1065]

That has to be coming eventually. But INDOT is already planning on doing some widening from I-865 to Michigan Road plus the upcoming project involving 465 and 69 and road widening involved there. They may feel that doing road work there might be "too much" for north siders at the time. But I've been thinking it for years, all of 465 should be eight lanes.

they're actually going to widen the 865 area? when?

[tdindy88]

It was announced late last year. But it should be from Michigan west to 865 (not including the 865/465 interchange IIRC.) It should be listed here under "added travel lanes" for Marion County at the new road investment site on INDOT's page, though it's very vague on exactly what the project is, it does give the location around that area. http://www.in.gov/indot/div/investment/

[bmeiser]

So what, a mile of widening? Woo buddy!

[silverback1065]

So what, a mile of widening? Woo buddy!

i agree, but it is better than nothing, i'm assuming it's simply an extension of the merging lane for us 421. i hope both sides are done (EB 465 to 421N and SB 421 to WB 465)

[bmeiser]

You're right, at least it's something.  I just want that damn corner of 465 fixed!