Indiana Notes

[Great Lakes Roads]

what non interstate would be worth tolling here?

US 30 and US 31

[I-55]

what non interstate would be worth tolling here?

US 30 and US 31

Would be the easiest way to fund the upgrades from the ProPEL 30 and 31 studies. Much of 30 and 31 have higher volumes than parts of I-74 and I-69 west and south of Indianapolis. Then begs the question if if they'll be allowed to toll US routes with FHWA and AASHTO's approval (doubt).

[monty]

what non interstate would be worth tolling here?

US 30 and US 31

Would be the easiest way to fund the upgrades from the ProPEL 30 and 31 studies. Much of 30 and 31 have higher volumes than parts of I-74 and I-69 west and south of Indianapolis. Then begs the question if if they'll be allowed to toll US routes with FHWA and AASHTO's approval (doubt).

Wow. Way back when, there was a toll study for US 31 from Indy to South Bend. If I recall, traffic levels then were not toll - worthy - feasible. But it could be far different today. Locals would hate the idea but you have to admit that the opportunity to fund a huge improvement may be worth it. Maybe Kokomo to Plymouth?

Tolling US 30 makes more sense as far more time / value could be saved from a complete overhaul. A lot of US 31 is already in improved order.

[sprjus4]

I would imagine to toll US-30 or US-31, any tolled segments would need to be upgraded fully to limited-access.

Additionally, a toll free alternative should reasonably be available for locals.

Tolling is possible on US highways, but not common. US-17 in Virginia was tolled back in 2017 (Dominion Blvd Veterans Bridge in Chesapeake, VA) along with US-301 in Delaware in 2019 (Middletown Bypass). Both are fully controlled access freeways.

[ilpt4u]

I would imagine to toll US-30 or US-31, any tolled segments would need to be upgraded fully to limited-access.

Additionally, a toll free alternative should reasonably be available for locals.

Tolling is possible on US highways, but not common. US-17 in Virginia was tolled back in 2017 (Dominion Blvd Veterans Bridge in Chesapeake, VA) along with US-301 in Delaware in 2019 (Middletown Bypass). Both are fully controlled access freeways.

US 51 rides along with I-39 and I-90 on the Jane Addams Tollway between Rockford and the Wisconsin border also

[Joe The Dragon]

need high speed tolling on toll road

[ITB]

Ever hear of Purdue University's LTAP Asset Management program? Perhaps a few of you have, but it's a good bet most haven't. I hadn't until a few minutes ago. For those who have an interest in Indiana's roads and bridges, their condition and maintenance, this is a program you should know about.

The program is a Transportation Asset Management project. As such, data is collected about the condition of Indiana's roads and bridges, and then assessed. LTAP stands for Local Assistance Technical Program. INDOT contracts with Purdue's LTAP to collect, house, and make this information publicly available. This was in response to legislation enacted by the Indiana legislature in 2021.

Each year LTAP provides updated information about the condition of Indiana's roads and bridges. It's 2024 report can be accessed here.

And for those interested, the website of the LTAP Asset Management program can be found here.



 

[Revive 755]

what non interstate would be worth tolling here?

Perhaps parts of US 41 and US 52 to catch some of those avoiding a tolled I-65?

[I-55]

Ever hear of Purdue University's LTAP Asset Management program? Perhaps a few of you have, but it's a good bet most haven't. I hadn't until a few minutes ago. For those who have an interest in Indiana's roads and bridges, their condition and maintenance, this is a program you should know about.

The program is a Transportation Asset Management project. As such, data is collected about the condition of Indiana's roads and bridges, and then assessed. LTAP stands for Local Assistance Technical Program. INDOT contracts with Purdue's LTAP to collect, house, and make this information publicly available. This was in response to legislation enacted by the Indiana legislature in 2021.

Each year LTAP provides updated information about the condition of Indiana's roads and bridges. It's 2024 report can be accessed here.

And for those interested, the website of the LTAP Asset Management program can be found here.

Worth noting that while some state road data may be found, LTAP mostly focuses on roads not maintained by INDOT. Their primary purpose (from the work I've done with them) is to assist smaller municipalities with handling their road inventory.

[silverback1065]

I was looking up US 421 on Wikipedia and the article for it states that INDOT plans to turn it into a freeway from I-74 to US 50. Is this actually true?    judging by the I-74 interchange it appears they eventually want to at least bypass Greensburg.

[NWI_Irish96]

I was looking up US 421 on Wikipedia and the article for it states that INDOT plans to turn it into a freeway from I-74 to US 50. Is this actually true?    judging by the I-74 interchange it appears they eventually want to at least bypass Greensburg.

I can't find anything on the INDOT website, and I find it hard to believe this is a real thing.

I agree that a new terrain eastern routing of 421 from CR 100 S to I-74 would make sense, and adding a few passing lanes the rest of the way down to US 50 would make sense, but a full freeway would be overkill.

[74/171FAN]

I was looking up US 421 on Wikipedia and the article for it states that INDOT plans to turn it into a freeway from I-74 to US 50. Is this actually true?    judging by the I-74 interchange it appears they eventually want to at least bypass Greensburg.

I can't find anything on the INDOT website, and I find it hard to believe this is a real thing.

I agree that a new terrain eastern routing of 421 from CR 100 S to I-74 would make sense, and adding a few passing lanes the rest of the way down to US 50 would make sense, but a full freeway would be overkill.

The AARoads Wiki does not recognize this freeway.

[seicer]

There is nothing on the Wikipedia articles nor on INDOT's radar for a freeway between Interstate 74 and US 50.

[ITB]

There is nothing on the Wikipedia articles nor on INDOT's radar for a freeway between Interstate 74 and US 50.

It's mentioned in the U.S. Route 421 Wikipedia page, under the Future subhead. No reference is cited, however. The pertinent section reads:

"US 421 is projected to be upgraded to a freeway in Indiana from Greensburg to Versailles. US 421 freeway will go near, or pass through Napoleon and Osgood."

[I-55]

There is nothing on the Wikipedia articles nor on INDOT's radar for a freeway between Interstate 74 and US 50.

It's mentioned in the U.S. Route 421 Wikipedia page, under the Future subhead. No reference is cited, however. The pertinent section reads:

"US 421 is projected to be upgraded to a freeway in Indiana from Greensburg to Versailles. US 421 freeway will go near, or pass through Napoleon and Osgood."

4k AADT is very low for freeway, let alone for divided highway. This seems like something the editor found on a "future highways" site or something, since this is pretty out of left field.

[sprjus4]

I was just looking up about US 421 this evening when I noticed this "interesting" thing on its Wikipedia page.

Future
US 421 will be also a freeway in Indiana from Greensburg to Versailles. US 421 freeway will go near, or pass through Napoleon, and Osgood.

Um....right.

I'm surprised it still has remained for this long.

[jnewkirk77]

That's just weird. The only new highway proposal even close to that one was the aborted "Link 101" study that was put forth to find a better route between I-71 and US 50. INDOT killed that last year.

https://www.insideindianabusiness.com/articles/indot-pulls-plug-on-southeast-indiana-highway-project

[ITB]

I was just looking up about US 421 this evening when I noticed this "interesting" thing on its Wikipedia page.

Future
US 421 will be also a freeway in Indiana from Greensburg to Versailles. US 421 freeway will go near, or pass through Napoleon, and Osgood.

Um....right.

I'm surprised it still has remained for this long.

I'll remove it in a couple of days. For now, I want to leave it up so those interested can view it. As I noted earlier, there is no reference cited, so it will be an easy edit.

[74/171FAN]

I was looking up US 421 on Wikipedia and the article for it states that INDOT plans to turn it into a freeway from I-74 to US 50. Is this actually true?    judging by the I-74 interchange it appears they eventually want to at least bypass Greensburg.

I can't find anything on the INDOT website, and I find it hard to believe this is a real thing.

I agree that a new terrain eastern routing of 421 from CR 100 S to I-74 would make sense, and adding a few passing lanes the rest of the way down to US 50 would make sense, but a full freeway would be overkill.

The AARoads Wiki does not recognize this freeway.

So it was in the general US 421 article, but anyway it should be gone on AARW now.

[mgk920]

At least get rid of the neveremding STOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOP across the state along US 30!

Mike

[JREwing78]

At least get rid of the neveremding STOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOP across the state along US 30!

Mike

The level of traffic definitely warrants a full freeway conversion, but the neverending STOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOPSTOP invites the neverending CRASH!CRASH!CRASH!CRASH!CRASH!CRASH!.

If the intersection is busy enough for a stoplight, it's busy enough for an overpass or interchange.

[Finrod]

Tidbit about how the city of Crawfordsville in Montgomery County is trying to eliminate a railroad crossing on Market Street (SR 32) near its downtown core. It's an example of how many small towns and cities across Indiana are striving to improve safety and mobility via modest projects.

Crawfordsville may soon see significant population growth as it's located about 20 miles of the forthcoming LEAP Innovation District in Boone County. In addition, Tempur Sealy, in 2021, opened a new manufacturing facility on the outskirts of the city that is planned to employ 300.

Interesting that the City is spearheading this and not INDOT. INDOT owns the road. either way it is a good thing to remove rail crossings whenever you can. they're very dangerous. it will be interesting how they come up with removing it, I don't see how you can install a bridge there with the required heights and grades. it can be done but A LOT of property will be lost and roads will need to be rerouted. and I don't see how you raise the tracks either, their requirements are even more strict.

Since I used to live in Crawfordsville, I can speak to this a bit.

First, it's not just SR 32 there on Market Street, it's also US 136 and SR 47.  The only east-west streets in Crawfordsville that even cross this rail line (which goes to Lafayette to the north and Ladoga to the south, it's the old Monon line) are Market Street, Main Street (which despite its name is not a through street in that area), Wabash Avenue (which has an overpass), and Elmore Street (which is in an industrial area and doesn't have heavy through traffic).  Many years ago there was also an overpass on Pike Street, but it was a high narrow bridge that was precarious and eventually closed and is now gone entirely, the only evidence of it ever having been there is a stub near the Lew Wallace museum.  Pike Street has never been a through street in Crawfordsville anyways so its closing was no significant loss.

https://www.google.com/maps/@40.0406778,-86.8934645,3a,75y,92.73h,81.23t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sbzMDhDBkuoRq99LHluP0Mg!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fcb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile%26w%3D900%26h%3D600%26pitch%3D8.772905408963695%26panoid%3DbzMDhDBkuoRq99LHluP0Mg%26yaw%3D92.72646869270227!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDIxNy4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

Market Street is arguably the most important east-west street in Crawfordsville, so I can understand why they'd like to eliminate that crossing; but the reason Wabash Avenue has an overpass is because the rail line is essentially in a trench south of Main Street until it meets the other two railroads that pass through Crawfordsville, or what's left of them at least.  There's no way to lower the rail line in that area without also screwing up the Main Street crossing, and while Market Street does go up a hill either side of the rail crossing, neither is very steep. The whole thing is only 2.5 blocks east of the center of the city there at Market and Washington.  In short, I agree, I don't see how it can be done without completely obliterating that area.

[ITB]

The Indianapolis MPO (Metropolitan Planning Organization) is doling out $80.1 million in funding for 26 projects in the IMPO region. Projects of note include the rehabilitation of the Raymond Street bridge over Bean Creek in Indianapolis and a roundabout to replace the intersection at SR 144 and SR 135 in Bargersville in Johnson County. Several roundabout projects in Hamilton County and Hendricks County also will be funded, as will the widening of two sections of Smith Valley Road in Johnson County.

The funding being dispersed comes from FHWA federal funds, which are passed through INDOT to the Indianapolis MPO. Federal law requires urban areas with a population greater than 50,000 to have a MPO. The Indianapolis MPO includes Indianapolis and Marion County and the surrounding eight counties. In total, applications were submitted for 53 projects of which 26 were selected to be funded.

Read more about the projects to be funded here.

[bmeiser]

The Monon bridge over 86th has been needed for a long time. That's a dangerous crossing.

[jhuntin1]

I'm interested in what two sections of Smith Valley Road will be widened. It's currently two lane from west of US-31 to I-69. The construction of a new roundabout this summer at Averett Road would give the opportunity for widening the approaches in advance, if the section near Greenwood High School is one of the two. The whole road should be made four-lane eventually, but there's a lot of ROW acquisition that will need to take place.