US 31 Hamilton County, Indiana

[mukade]

A few months ago, it was noticed that there was a discrepancy in mileage signs/exit numbers on US 31 in Hamilton County. Some, like the enhanced mileage markers by SR 38 and the Kokomo signage, seemed to use the mileage as if US 31 went through downtown Indy while the published INDOT plans for Hamilton County seemed to show mileage as if US 31 were routed along I-465 (as it actually is). As the signs near 161st Street go up, I notice they are eight miles less than the published plans showed. Those plans showed 161st Street to be Exit 139, but it was actually signed as Exit 131. So I guess as far as US 31 mileage goes, INDOT considers the route through central Indy as the basis.

In the image below, note the unclear design for the middle sign and how the sign company interpreted the design.

[Alps]

A few months ago, it was noticed that there was a discrepancy in mileage signs/exit numbers on US 31 in Hamilton County. Some, like the enhanced mileage markers by SR 38 and the Kokomo signage, seemed to use the mileage as if US 31 went through downtown Indy while the published INDOT plans for Hamilton County seemed to show mileage as if US 31 were routed along I-465 (as it actually is). As the signs near 161st Street go up, I notice they are eight miles less than the published plans showed. Those plans showed 161st Street to be Exit 139, but it was actually signed as Exit 131. So I guess as far as US 31 mileage goes, INDOT considers the route through central Indy as the basis.

In the image below, note the unclear design for the middle sign and how the sign company interpreted the design.

a) I fail to see what is unclear about the middle sign's design.
b) US 31 does not follow I-465. It officially does not exist between its 465 interchange junctions.

[NE2]

b) US 31 does not follow I-465. It officially does not exist between its 465 interchange junctions.

Per official signs placed by INDOT, it follows I-465:


from http://www.highwayexplorer.com/EndsPage.php?id=2031&section=1

[J N Winkler]

In the image below, note the unclear design for the middle sign and how the sign company interpreted the design.

a) I fail to see what is unclear about the middle sign's design.

Unlike the other two signs on the same gantry, it has a full-width exit tab, which means both top corners on the main sign panel have unrounded borders (Indiana DOT does not round corner borders that are directly under a tab).  This means that the sign cross-section shows just a ruled line for the top panel border which is precisely the same stroke width, though not the same color, as a line in the superimposed grid.  The sign fabricator omitted the ruled line and as a result there is no separation between the tab and the main sign legend.

This issue extends not just to this particular sign but also to all of the other signs in this project (Indiana DOT contract no. 34750) with full-width tabs.  Moreover, although Mukade quoted the cross-section sheet because this is the most convenient for showing multiple signs arranged on a gantry, this issue also affects the sign panel detail sheets.  No widths are given for the top panel border/bottom tab border and the line that is used to show them is the same width as the line that separates green background from bottom yellow "EXIT ONLY" panels.

Given that it is a convention in interpreting sign panel detail sheets that any line shown in the sign sketch is not meant to be a visible feature on the finished sign unless it has a dimensioned width or is a boundary between two colors, the sign fabricator's interpretation was correct, though perhaps not the one intended by the Indiana DOT designer.  Indiana DOT is therefore properly liable for any additional costs to fix this mistake.

[silverback1065]

b) US 31 does not follow I-465. It officially does not exist between its 465 interchange junctions.

Per official signs placed by INDOT, it follows I-465:


from http://www.highwayexplorer.com/EndsPage.php?id=2031&section=1

Correct, but since they count it as still going through Indy, is it considered an unsigned highway through Indy, or is this simply an error?  Or is it just fitting with the mileage posts already in the field?  I have no clue...

[NE2]

Most likely they didn't see the need to remilepost.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milepost_equation

[PurdueBill]

The sign without the line below the tab looks like a Massachusetts design until very recently--there was nothing unusual in the least about a sign that looked like that in Mass if the tab were as wide as the main sign--it was just all one sign.

[bmeiser]

Traffic will begin shifting to the newly constructed southbound lanes on Saturday.  Traffic will also be able to use some of the new ramp system in this area.

http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs123/1112548744559/archive/1114880879372.html

[tdindy88]

Hamilton County is looking into building a flyover ramp to connect 146th Street with southbound Keystone Parkway.

http://www.indystar.com/article/20131003/LOCAL01/310030087/New-ramp-would-connect-146th-Street-Keystone

Originally there were plans for a connection but they were stripped when INDOT revised the design of the interchange complex with US 31 and 146th Street. The current plans make it pretty hard to get from 146th Street to Keystone without taking a variety of ramps or streets. The new ramp would be just west of the ramp connecting northbound Keystone to 146th.

[silverback1065]

Hamilton County is looking into building a flyover ramp to connect 146th Street with southbound Keystone Parkway.

http://www.indystar.com/article/20131003/LOCAL01/310030087/New-ramp-would-connect-146th-Street-Keystone

Originally there were plans for a connection but they were stripped when INDOT revised the design of the interchange complex with US 31 and 146th Street. The current plans make it pretty hard to get from 146th Street to Keystone without taking a variety of ramps or streets. The new ramp would be just west of the ramp connecting northbound Keystone to 146th.

so who would pay for this?

[tdindy88]

Sounds like Hamilton County.

[ssummers72]

According to INDOT's Roadway Inventory:

http://gis.in.gov/apps/DOT/RoadwayInventory/   (INDOT,website,2013)

US-31 and other routes do not exist within the city of Indianapolis, they follow I-465 around the city or they have been truncated to the outskirts.

[silverback1065]

According to INDOT's Roadway Inventory:

http://gis.in.gov/apps/DOT/RoadwayInventory/   (INDOT,website,2013)

US-31 and other routes do not exist within the city of Indianapolis, they follow I-465 around the city or they have been truncated to the outskirts.

SR 431 still exists (between 465 and 96th st)?  Is this true? It's definitely not signed as such in the field

[tdindy88]

As far as I know, SR 431 does not exist at all.

[silverback1065]

As far as I know, SR 431 does not exist at all.

must be an error on their part then

[Indyroads]

SR-431 was decommissioned sevaral years ago.

[mukade]

You can see evidence of construction all the way down, but the construction of the new ramps at I-465 will probably cause the most delays because it impacts two highways. Is the plan still to close the section between Keystone Parkway and I-465 during construction?

Currently, crews are building two flyover ramps that will allow people to get off the highway and onto U.S. 31 in either direction without having to go through a traffic light. Recently, drivers have noticed 465 backing up because of that construction.

Construction headaches may get worse for drivers (Fox 59)

[bmeiser]

You can see evidence of construction all the way down, but the construction of the new ramps at I-465 will probably cause the most delays because it impacts two highways. Is the plan still to close the section between Keystone Parkway and I-465 during construction?

According to this presentation from the March 2013 open house, only the section from Old Meridian to 136th St will fully close:

http://www.us31hamiltoncounty.in.gov/assets/docs/OpenHouse_Mar122013_FINAL.pdf

I believe the rest will constructed under a combination of split phase traffic and crossover traffic.

[theline]

Unless I missed it, there was no indication of how long that section of 31 will be closed. A study of the map leads me to believe that local traffic will reroute largely along Old Meridian. Does anyone have thoughts on what the official detour will be? INDOT prefers official detours along state highways. Since Keystone hasn't been a state route for a few years, there are no good options.

[tdindy88]

I believe Keystone will have its truck restrictions lifted for the time that US 31 is closed so that it will serve as the official detour. With the work from 146th Street north to SR 38 mostly finished by the time that closure takes place, it will be a freeway-like road from the 96th Street intersection on Keystone up to SR 38.

[silverback1065]

I believe Keystone will have its truck restrictions lifted for the time that US 31 is closed so that it will serve as the official detour. With the work from 146th Street north to SR 38 mostly finished by the time that closure takes place, it will be a freeway-like road from the 96th Street intersection on Keystone up to SR 38.

those restrictions have been lifted for a while, if you drive on 465 the truck restriction signs are covered up.  Have they cul-de-saced 203rd street yet?

[Revive 755]

Drove through the I-465/US 31 interchange this past week.  NB US 31/Meridan Street has the rightmost lane close (and the triple left on the EB I-465 exit reduced to a double), it appears a new temporary ramp for the EB I-465 exit is about to open, and there appeared to be some piles being driven.

[ysuindy]

US 31 will close on or after April 4, 2014 and will reopen by Thanksgiving

http://us31hamiltoncounty.in.gov/us-31-closure/

Announced in 2012, INDOT plans to close US 31 between Old Meridian Street and 136th Street to accelerate the construction of an overpass at 126th Street/Carmel Drive and roundabout interchanges at 131st Street/Main Street and 136th Street.

Early utility relocations and cleared right-of-way will allow the previously planned closure of US 31 between Old Meridian Street and 136th Street in Carmel to begin on or after Friday, April 4, 2014. The road is expected to reopen before Thanksgiving.

Detour route
The official detour route will be Keystone Parkway. Pennsylvania and Illinois streets will serve as alternate routes for local access

[silverback1065]

US 31 will close on or after April 4, 2014 and will reopen by Thanksgiving

http://us31hamiltoncounty.in.gov/us-31-closure/

Announced in 2012, INDOT plans to close US 31 between Old Meridian Street and 136th Street to accelerate the construction of an overpass at 126th Street/Carmel Drive and roundabout interchanges at 131st Street/Main Street and 136th Street.

Early utility relocations and cleared right-of-way will allow the previously planned closure of US 31 between Old Meridian Street and 136th Street in Carmel to begin on or after Friday, April 4, 2014. The road is expected to reopen before Thanksgiving.

Detour route
The official detour route will be Keystone Parkway. Pennsylvania and Illinois streets will serve as alternate routes for local access

So no traffic lights on 31 from 136th to 169th street after thanksgiving! Aren't they supposed to close 31 again to do the portion from 106 to 116th?

[trafficsignal]

US 31 will close on or after April 4, 2014 and will reopen by Thanksgiving

http://us31hamiltoncounty.in.gov/us-31-closure/

Announced in 2012, INDOT plans to close US 31 between Old Meridian Street and 136th Street to accelerate the construction of an overpass at 126th Street/Carmel Drive and roundabout interchanges at 131st Street/Main Street and 136th Street.

Early utility relocations and cleared right-of-way will allow the previously planned closure of US 31 between Old Meridian Street and 136th Street in Carmel to begin on or after Friday, April 4, 2014. The road is expected to reopen before Thanksgiving.

Detour route
The official detour route will be Keystone Parkway. Pennsylvania and Illinois streets will serve as alternate routes for local access

So no traffic lights on 31 from 136th to 169th street after thanksgiving! Aren't they supposed to close 31 again to do the portion from 106 to 116th?

No - the new road is wide enough thru there with all the CD lanes / ramp lanes / etc that they can build enough new to switch traffic over before rebuilding mainline.