IN: US 31 South Bend to Plymouth Upgrade report

[mukade]

The contract for the new 7th Road interchange will be awarded to Primco, which built significant parts of the US 31 Kokomo and Hoosier Heartland (SR 25) projects: http://www.in.gov/dot/div/contracts/letting/archive/2013/oct09/OFFICIAL100913.pdf.

That interchange should be the final contract in the South Bend to Plymouth upgrade.

[theline]

^ And it is the final contract for the South Bend-Plymouth upgrade, per the press release issued today: http://www.us31plysb.com/assets/LastUS31contractawarded.pdf

There are several interesting quotes regarding this project and others:

"This is an exciting time for Northern Indiana with the recent completion of the Hoosier Heartland between Lafayette and Fort Wayne and plans to open the new U.S. 31 in Kokomo to Thanksgiving travelers,"  said Governor Mike Pence. "We are finishing what we started by having the three new U.S. 31 sections fully under contract."

When the final Hamilton County section opens to traffic in 2015, a total of 32 stoplights will have been removed from U.S. 31 between Indianapolis and South Bend, saving drivers a half hour of travel time. . . .

Before the Thanksgiving travel holiday, 13 miles of new U.S. 31 freeway will open with five new interchanges just east of Kokomo. The $155 million project circumvents 15 traffic signals and more than 130 access points along the existing U.S. 31 in Kokomo. The 20-mile U.S. 31 corridor between U.S. 30 in Plymouth and the U.S. 20 bypass in South Bend includes 15 miles of new highway alignment and four new interchanges. The $225 million section is scheduled to open to traffic by the end of 2014.

The $342 million U.S. 31 Hamilton County project upgrades 13 miles of existing U.S. 31 between I-465 in Carmel and State Road 38 near Westfield, including nine new interchanges. . . .

INDOT earlier this year announced a separate project to build a new U.S. 31 interchange at State Road 28 near the 800,000-square-foot Chrysler Tipton Transmission Plant. Construction of the estimated $17 million interchange is scheduled to begin in 2015.

[mukade]

The 20-mile U.S. 31 corridor between U.S. 30 in Plymouth and the U.S. 20 bypass in South Bend includes 15 miles of new highway alignment and four new interchanges. The $225 million section is scheduled to open to traffic by the end of 2014.

As the new US 31 freeway already comes up to the existing one near US 20 and south of LaPaz. I hope it will not be another November opening for this project (as Kokomo was). I understand the 7th Road interchange will probably take the whole construction season.

[theline]

There's still much to be done, especially at both spots where the freeway ties into the existing road. They certainly will not open up the new freeway at the north end until Jackson Road and Fellows Street are complete to not leave the Gilmer Park neighborhood isolated from the rest of South Bend. Though the bridges for both Jackson and Fellows are substantially done, much needs to be done of the approaches. I don't know if INDOT would open the freeway before the Johnson Road overpass is done. Construction has yet to start on it.

As for the 7th Road interchange, I hope they don't wait to open the freeway until it's completed. Before completion of the interchange, access to Plymouth from the north would still be available as it is today from old 31, leading south from US 6.

[theline]

The Fellows Street overpass is now open. Fellows now continues smoothly south from Ireland Road to Jackson Road. Construction of the Jackson Road overpass, crossing new/old 31, is moving along. Still significant work on the approaches though.

In related work, the city of South Bend has extended Barbie Street west from Michigan Street to Lafayette. They are improving Barbie, Follows, and Lafayette to provide some relief to the overtaxed Ireland-Michigan intersection.

[monty]

The 20-mile U.S. 31 corridor between U.S. 30 in Plymouth and the U.S. 20 bypass in South Bend includes 15 miles of new highway alignment and four new interchanges. The $225 million section is scheduled to open to traffic by the end of 2014.

As the new US 31 freeway already comes up to the existing one near US 20 and south of LaPaz. I hope it will not be another November opening for this project (as Kokomo was). I understand the 7th Road interchange will probably take the whole construction season.

I think you can expect this project to open in November 2014.

[theline]

Good news: INDOT has announced that the new road may open as early as mid-July. This comes as a surprise, since they had long predicted a late-year opening. While they are building the tie-ins to the existing road at each end, there no doubt comes a time that it's easier to route the traffic to the new pavement rather than maintaining the connection to the old. I wonder if the 7th Road interchange will be ready for traffic that soon, but that might not be a show-stopper.

Here is the story from WNDU-TV: http://www.wndu.com/home/headlines/New-US-31-SB-to-Plymouth-to-open-mid-to-late-July---255690451.html

The report says lane restrictions in the northern construction zone will go into effect tomorrow, April 21, but I had to drive through there single file a week ago. Avoid the area if you're in a hurry.

[ysuindy]

I was through there twice last weekend and I find this report surprising based on my wholly uneducated quick look as I drove past the two tie-in ends.

On the southern end it appeared nothing had been done since last Fall. Not surprising given the severe winter.  The northern end looked much further along.

The report didn't mention the southern end. I wonder if they would consider opening the rest of the highway if only the US 6 to southern tie in is not complete?

[mukade]

The video showed the interchange with US 20 as exit 246. The US 30 interchange is now exit 225.

[ysuindy]

The video showed the interchange with US 20 as exit 246. The US 30 interchange is now exit 225.

Last weekend the new sign for the Northbound US 30 exit was up, partially hidden right behind the existing sign.  I did not see a new sign Southbound - imagine it might be up by now.

[NWI_Irish96]

I was through there twice last weekend and I find this report surprising based on my wholly uneducated quick look as I drove past the two tie-in ends.

On the southern end it appeared nothing had been done since last Fall. Not surprising given the severe winter.  The northern end looked much further along.

The report didn't mention the southern end. I wonder if they would consider opening the rest of the highway if only the US 6 to southern tie in is not complete?

I went through over the weekend as well and I would agree that the southern junction has a long way to go and having it open by July seems very optimistic. 

[mukade]

I have not been by there in months, but...
1) If you would have seen the southern US 31/SR 931 tie in (in Kokomo) a month before it opened, you can see how fast they can move as long as the weather holds. The old carriageway was still being used less than a month before the new roadway was open to traffic.
2) They could use US 6 to the new freeway while they complete the tie-in, couldn't they?

[ysuindy]

With a son at Notre Dame, I've been through Kokomo and South Bend quite a bit since August.  I agree they got a lot done in the last month before opening at the South tie-in.  I never thought they were going to make it. But I don't see the tie-in near Plymouth being anywhere near what the south Kokomo tie-in was last August.    Two weeks ago it looked exactly like it would have three months ago when you last saw it (well except for there was no snow now).

While I haven't checked out the interchange at Route 6, I don't see why they couldn't it open the new road to US 6 if everything else is done except the south tie-in.  It would still be a big benefit - probably would need to adjust the left turn lane at current 31.

I'm headed up that way again this weekend.  I'll be interested to see what has changed at each end over the past two week.  I would be thrilled with a mid-July opening.  I would like nothing more than my trip home to move my son out in May to be the last time I get to go through the speed trap that is Lakeville. 

[NWI_Irish96]

Work really moving now at the north end.  From the project website:

US 31 between Kern Road and US 20 is now one lane in each direction, as crews work to connect the lanes of the New US 31 to existing US 31 over the coming months.

From now through most of the summer, US 31 will be restricted to one lane in each direction, and traffic merging onto US 31 from US 20 will now yield to through traffic. INDOT is working to alleviate any traffic delays and congestion by adjusting traffic signals in the area to facilitate north-south traffic flow.

Despite adjustments, traffic volume in the area may lead to back-ups on US 31 and on the US 20 Bypass exit ramp for traffic accessing southbound US 31. Drivers are encouraged to find alternative routes to avoid delays.

Johnson Road is now closed at US 31 for new bridge construction st. Access to and from Johnson Road at US 31 will be closed permanently at this time.

The Jackson Road bridge over US 31 and Main Street between US 31 and Jackson Road are now open.

[theline]

Next month INDOT is opening the new road to bicyclists for one day in a unique event: http://www.southbendtribune.com/life/travel/outdoor/bike-on-new-us-before-cars-do/article_b172704a-dac0-11e3-809a-0017a43b2370.html

Before it opens to cars and semis, a stretch of the newly built U.S. 31 will open up to bicyclists for one morning, on June 14, to cap off Michiana Bike to Work Week.

This organized ride is called "Bike 31: One and Done"  for good reason.

It will be the only time the public will be permitted on the new highway before it's open.

Construction of the north tie-in to the existing road is progressing well. The existing west carriageway has been demolished to accommodate grading of the tie-in.

InDOT hopes to open most of the new U.S. 31 to cars between South Bend and Plymouth by July or August, with some lane restrictions, he [Matt Deitchley, InDOT spokesman] said. The state hopes to have all lanes fully open by the year's end.

Both directions of traffic now occupy the east carriageway in the area of the north tie-in. My guess is that all traffic will be switched over new west lanes and continuing down the new road, as soon as the west lanes are ready. That accounts for the July-to-August opening date.

[ysuindy]

InDOT hopes to open most of the new U.S. 31 to cars between South Bend and Plymouth by July or August, with some lane restrictions, he [Matt Deitchley, InDOT spokesman] said. The state hopes to have all lanes fully open by the year's end.

Both directions of traffic now occupy the east carriageway in the area of the north tie-in. My guess is that all traffic will be switched over new west lanes and continuing down the new road, as soon as the west lanes are ready. That accounts for the July-to-August opening date.
[/quote]

That makes a lot of sense and something that would seem doable, especially at the North end.  Last week there still didn't seem like much was being done at the South end.

I've also realized since my "they will never make it" post earlier that the tie-ins will not look like those in Kokomo with ramps to take the old road over the new to complete the tie-in. 

[theline]

^^ Yeah, at the north end, the old road will veer under the new freeway to tie in with Main Street. This underpass has already been built and is open. In fact, I drove it recently.

At the south end, the old road will not be tied into the new. No overpasses will be needed, so the switchover will be rather easy. I've not been down there since the season began, so I can't report on progress there.

[theline]

Next month INDOT is opening the new road to bicyclists for one day in a unique event: http://www.southbendtribune.com/life/travel/outdoor/bike-on-new-us-before-cars-do/article_b172704a-dac0-11e3-809a-0017a43b2370.html

Before it opens to cars and semis, a stretch of the newly built U.S. 31 will open up to bicyclists for one morning, on June 14, to cap off Michiana Bike to Work Week.

This organized ride is called "Bike 31: One and Done"  for good reason.

It will be the only time the public will be permitted on the new highway before it's open.

The bicycle event on the new road occurred today. You can read the details here: http://www.southbendtribune.com/news/hundreds-of-cyclists-check-out-new-stretch-of-u-s/article_77bc6022-f3f2-11e3-85e5-0017a43b2370.html

Click on the link in the article to view a photo gallery. You can see the participants, as well as some views of the road and signage. I was amused by the two riders on penny farthings (old-fashioned high-wheeler bikes).

[mukade]

I went to South Bend yesterday, and it is again difficult to see how the new road will be open by the end of July. At the southern end, a bridge over a creek has been completely removed so that alone seems to be a big challenge. I was also surprised that they are only now starting to lay concrete for the US 6 interchange ramps. The new overpass at the southern tie-in also would need to be at a certain point before the road opened, but I think that is possible. Finally, the Kern Road interchange and widening still has a long way to go.

The new interchange at 7th Road is still a long way from being done, but that has nothing to do with the new route from LaPaz to South Bend opening up. I would guess this would open up Thanksgiving week which is the normal INDOT MO.

All that said, the northbound carriageway at the south tie-in is shaped and not too far from being paved, and the north tie-in has really come a long way since I was there last fall. When I looked at I-69 in 2012 and US 31 in Kokomo in 2013, I never would have guessed they would do so much in so short a time, but in both those cases, the weather cooperated. I would guess it wouldn't be too hard to see how the new road might be in use by the end of August. I doubt that the project would be fully completed until next Spring. Even the Kokomo US 31 and SR 25 projects are still getting finishing touches now.

[NWI_Irish96]

Article in today's SB Tribune: http://www.southbendtribune.com/news/local/u-s-coming-along/article_c8d0fda6-f6cc-11e3-9381-001a4bcf6878.html

Not a lot there, but it does specifically state "the fall" for the opening.  So I guess INDOT's previous target of "July or August" is no longer the target.

[theline]

The Tribune article also links to two interesting graphics, a reasonably detailed "map" of the project and a photo of north end construction seen from the also-under-construction Johnson Road overpass.

I still think the disparity between target dates can be explained by what is being targeted. The July/August target has always gone with the phrase "switching traffic to the new lanes." I take that to mean switching traffic to the new route, perhaps with just two lanes open around the north and south tie-ins, while construction continues. The fall target is associated with the highway being "open," which I take to mean all lanes open and traffic fully flowing. Some details may still remain until 2015, similar to what we've seen with other recent projects.

[NWI_Irish96]

Traveled past the south tie-in and US6 interchange sites yesterday.  South tie-in does not have any pavement yet anywhere in sight and looks a long way from being done.  From what I can see, the US 6 interchange looks mostly complete.

[ysuindy]

I sent a Twitter message to the INDOT Northwest District in about when the road would open.

Here is the response - obviously light on details in 140 characters.

‏@INDOTNorthwest 
@ysuindy @INDOT_ECentral US 31 between Plymouth and SB will be open to traffic by end of August.

I will be up there August 24 to move my son in for the school year.  It would be nice if the new road was at least partially open.

[tdindy88]

I was just reading on the website's FAQ page that they were able to give away the former (will be former) US 31 to Marshall County and Lapaz and South Bend but not able to do so within St. Joseph County outside of South Bend and that that stretch will still be under INDOT control. Anyone heard anything about this and whether it means this will be a new highway?

[silverback1065]

I was just reading on the website's FAQ page that they were able to give away the former (will be former) US 31 to Marshall County and Lapaz and South Bend but not able to do so within St. Joseph County outside of South Bend and that that stretch will still be under INDOT control. Anyone heard anything about this and whether it means this will be a new highway?

it will likely go unsigned like us 52 in west lafayette (from the new bypass to the wabash river bridge)