Indiana Notes

[Great Lakes Roads]

Speed cameras are coming to another construction zone in Indiana, but it's going to be on I-65 in Lake County (south of Lowell). Should be active on/after July 7th.

[NWI_Irish96]

Speed cameras are coming to another construction zone in Indiana, but it's going to be on I-65 in Lake County (south of Lowell). Should be active on/after July 7th.

That seems pointless. It's hard to get above 70 for any extended period of time between Lowell and W. Lafayette.

[seicer]

Speed cameras are coming to another construction zone in Indiana, but it's going to be on I-65 in Lake County (south of Lowell). Should be active on/after July 7th.

That seems pointless. It's hard to get above 70 for any extended period of time between Lowell and W. Lafayette.

Why are you wanting to speed at 70 MPH through an active construction zone?

[sprjus4]

Speed cameras are coming to another construction zone in Indiana, but it's going to be on I-65 in Lake County (south of Lowell). Should be active on/after July 7th.

That seems pointless. It's hard to get above 70 for any extended period of time between Lowell and W. Lafayette.

Why are you wanting to speed at 70 MPH through an active construction zone?

I can think of a number of interstate construction zones that are posted at 70 mph. A lot of areas won't reduce the speed limit outside of certain times because there is no need.

Here's an example: https://maps.app.goo.gl/dPuDJvWLCjjy4Bux8

While it was reduced to 60 mph when the imagery was taken, it is often at 70 mph. And funny enough, when it's not congested, traffic still moves 75-80 mph whether it's posted at 60 mph or 70 mph, in my experience.

These states that reduce these types of construction zones to 45 mph is egregiously unrealistic and presents safety hazards of its own... particularly with speed variance and the sudden drop of speed from 70+ mph speeds (especially once photo enforcement begins) combined with heavy traffic flow.

[NWI_Irish96]

Speed cameras are coming to another construction zone in Indiana, but it's going to be on I-65 in Lake County (south of Lowell). Should be active on/after July 7th.

That seems pointless. It's hard to get above 70 for any extended period of time between Lowell and W. Lafayette.

Why are you wanting to speed at 70 MPH through an active construction zone?

Sorry, missed the part about it being a construction zone.

[Great Lakes Roads]

https://propelus31.com/alternatives3/

https://propelus30.com/alternatives3/

The final PEL study for US 30 and US 31 just came out!

There has been some updates...

U.S. 30 West – West of Plymouth, an overpass was replaced with an interchange at Union Road in one of the expressway alternatives. This change improves access for those traveling to Marian University's Ancilla College and the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ Center at the Donaldson complex.

In Wanatah, an overpass at LaPorte County Road 1100 West was replaced with a directional intersection, and Condon Street was changed from right-in/right-out to a directional intersection. In addition, dedicated median openings were added to allow U-turn movements. These changes improve access for emergency services and local connectivity.

U.S. 30 East - In Warsaw, the freeway alternative was updated to include local service roads. This change provides access to and from businesses situated between Old U.S. 30 and County Road 250 East.

In Columbia City, all improvement packages feature full access at State Road 205. This change better accommodates traffic to and from the hospital and the surrounding region.

U.S. 31 South - In Sharpsville, an overpass was added at the intersection of U.S. 31 and County Road 300 North in one of the arterial alternatives and the expressway lite alternative. These changes improve east-west mobility and connectivity.

In the Grissom area, the expressway lite and freeway alternatives include an interchange alternative at the U.S. 31 and County Road 800 South intersection rather than at the County Road 850 South intersection. This change promotes east-west mobility by improving traffic flow while also improving safety.

[I-55]

Was interested in seeing which segments were recommended for freeway in the final screening, but I guess they dropped the recommendations altogether. I'm thinking that once the Warsaw and Whitley sections are built to freeway standards it would be more practical to complete the freeway buildout from Fort Wayne to Warsaw for consistency.

[ITB]

Looking through INDOT's 18-month construction letting list, there are several upcoming projects that feature added travel lanes. The list is current as of June 15, 2025.

These were the  projects listed, along with their respective letting dates:

• US 36     County: Marion     Contract: R-41781
  Added travel lanes, from 3 miles west of I-465 to 1.65 miles west of I-465; and from 1.65 miles west of I-465 to I-465
  Letting date: 07/09/2025

• ST-1018 (Anchorage Rd/CR 200)     County: Kosciusco     Contract: R-41153
  Added travel lane, from SR 15 to Biomet Dr
  Letting date: 10/08/2025

• State Road 45     County: Monroe     Contract: R-42595
  Added travel lanes, from the Bloomington bypass to the intersection of Pete Ellis Dr; intersection improvements with added turn lanes
  Letting date: 10/08/2025

• ST-1043 (Hillegas Road)     County: Allen     Contract: R-46105
  Added travel lanes, from approximately 400 feet north of Butler Rd to Coliseum Blvd; PH 1
  Letting date: 10/08/2025

• I-64     County: Floyd     Contract: R-42570
  Added travel lanes, from US 150 to the I-64/Spring Street interchange
  Letting date: 11/19/2025

• US 20     County: Elkhart     Contract: R-42379
  Added travel lanes, from 2.13 miles west of SR 13 (CR 35) to SR 13
  Letting date: 12/10/2025

• IR-1850 (CR 300 N)     County: Hancock     Contract: R-43621
  Added travel lanes, between CR 600 W and CR 700 W (SEG F)
  Letting date: 12/10/2025

• ST-1106 (County Line Road)     County: Marion     Contract: R-43594
  Added travel lanes, from I-69 to SR 135 (S Meridian St)
  Letting date: 07/08/2026

• IR-1249 (Olio Road)     County: Hamilton     Contract: R-44267
  Added travel lanes, from 146th to 156th Street
  Letting date: 07/08/2026

• State Road 32     County: Hamilton     Contract: R-43547
  Added travel lanes, East Street to River Road
  Letting date: 08/05/2026

[Beltway]

I make trip once a year to NW Indiana, and use I-70 and I-65 on the leg from Dayton, Ohio.

I tabulated the widening mileage on I-65 Indy to I-80/I-90.

I-65 Segment --------------- Mi. -- Lanes
.................................................................................   
I-865 to N. of IN 47 -------- 18 --- 8 and 6
N. of IN 47 to S. of IN 38  -- 20 --- 4
S. of IN 38 to E 725 N  ----- 13 ---- 6
E 725 N to S. of IN 2 ------- 58 ---- 4
S. of IN 2 to I-80/90 -------- 21 --- 6
TOTAL  --------------------- 130
      
40% or 52 miles is 6 lanes
60% or 78 miles is 4 lanes

I checked the traffic data for the Kankakee River bridge, which is on a 4-lane segment, and the AADT is 37,500 with 49% large trucks.

The whole distance between I-865 and I-80/I-90 needs 6 lanes. The terrain is fairly level but it is one busy highway!