Indiana Notes

[Revive 755]

Did not drive on any of the new section of I-265 to see whether or not it's been signed yet, but the Exit 6 on I-65 still signs the EB exit as IN 265 and not I-265.

At least as of a few weeks ago the reassurance shields were for IN 265.  The new mile markers in the median with I-265 shields were uncovered though.

[ITB]

Safer Driver 65, the project to add lanes and reconstruct pavement along I-65 in Clark and Scott counties is now underway. In mid-September, overnight lane closures began to allow crews to strengthen shoulders and perform culvert repairs.

In total, the project will improve about 13 miles of I-65, with 5.5 miles of that receiving a new third travel lane in each direction. Construction is currently expected to complete in 2028. A joint venture formed by E & Paving, Inc. and Milestone Contractors is the design-build team.

[tosa]

Made the round trip this weekend all the way down 65 for a wedding in Louisville. Some thoughts:

INDOT absolutely, positively must add additional travel lanes somewhere between Lowell and West Lafayette. That 62 miles spent mostly behind a line of cars in the left lane that is tuck behind a truck going 65.1 mph passing a truck in the right lane going 65.0 mph is insufferable. At the very least do the section between exits 215 and 193.

Did not drive on any of the new section of I-265 to see whether or not it's been signed yet, but the Exit 6 on I-65 still signs the EB exit as IN 265 and not I-265.

I-80/94 WB was backed up between I-65 and Calumet on a Saturday afternoon for no apparent reason. They need the Illiana in the worst way.

I regularly drive I-65 in both Indiana and Kentucky. Honestly, the stretch through Kentucky is so much more relaxing—lighter traffic and, more importantly, three lanes the whole way.

In Indiana, it feels completely different. My understanding is that north of Indy, I-65 is basically the only expressway option heading southeast out of Chicago, which explains all the traffic, especially the heavy truck presence.

Indiana really needs to make widening I-65 to three lanes a top priority.

[NWI_Irish96]

Made the round trip this weekend all the way down 65 for a wedding in Louisville. Some thoughts:

INDOT absolutely, positively must add additional travel lanes somewhere between Lowell and West Lafayette. That 62 miles spent mostly behind a line of cars in the left lane that is tuck behind a truck going 65.1 mph passing a truck in the right lane going 65.0 mph is insufferable. At the very least do the section between exits 215 and 193.

Did not drive on any of the new section of I-265 to see whether or not it's been signed yet, but the Exit 6 on I-65 still signs the EB exit as IN 265 and not I-265.

I-80/94 WB was backed up between I-65 and Calumet on a Saturday afternoon for no apparent reason. They need the Illiana in the worst way.

I regularly drive I-65 in both Indiana and Kentucky. Honestly, the stretch through Kentucky is so much more relaxing—lighter traffic and, more importantly, three lanes the whole way.

In Indiana, it feels completely different. My understanding is that north of Indy, I-65 is basically the only expressway option heading southeast out of Chicago, which explains all the traffic, especially the heavy truck presence.

Indiana really needs to make widening I-65 to three lanes a top priority.

Yes, the Chicago-Indy stretch serves as a distributor for all the truck traffic heading south and southeast out of Chicago. From Indy, you have some going east on 70 to Columbus, southeast on 74 to Cincinnati, and south on 65 to Louisville/Nashville. You now even have some continuing on 69 to Evansville.

Yet the next segment we're getting expanded is 5 miles in Clark/Scott counties.

[seicer]

A Closer Look at Indiana's Interstate 65 Safety and Efficiency Project

The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) is undertaking a comprehensive overhaul of Interstate 65 in Indianapolis, Indiana, as part of the Safety and Efficiency project. The project corridor spans nearly five miles from just north of the Interstate 465 interchange to just south of the Interstate 65 and Interstate 70 overpass. The primary objectives are alleviating congestion, enhancing traffic flow, and bolstering safety along this critical stretch of highway.

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The project's key components include adding a travel lane in each direction, expanding Interstate 65 to four lanes per direction. This expansion primarily utilizes the existing inside shoulder, with the southern third of the project area widening to the outside. Bridge improvements are also central to the project: the Hanna Avenue bridge is being entirely replaced to accommodate both vehicular and pedestrian traffic, while the northbound bridges over Naomi Street, Pleasant Run Parkway, and Morris/Prospect Street are being widened to support the additional lanes. Other spans are receiving minor updates to their driving surface.

In addition to structural enhancements, the project addresses pedestrian safety through sidewalk upgrades and the installation of ADA-compliant ramps. Pavement rehabilitation or replacement is ongoing throughout the corridor, while concrete pavement replacement is scheduled for the northern segment, from just north of Fletcher Avenue to just south of the Interstate 65 and Interstate 70 overpass. Drainage structures are also being replaced. An abandoned railroad bridge near Fletcher Avenue will also be removed to facilitate smoother traffic flow.

The majority of the work is anticipated to conclude by 2027.

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The gallery below includes photos taken in August and September 2025 of work along Interstate 65.

Work on northbound Interstate 65 includes rehabilitating the bridge over Morris and Prospect Street. A potential redesign of the I-65/I-70 interchange and the Morris/Prospect interchange, studied under the ProPEL Indy project, is not part of this effort.

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Minor upgrades are planned at the Raymond Street interchange, focusing on sidewalk improvements. It is unclear whether needed ramp reconstruction will be included.

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The bridge over Southern Street is receiving light rehabilitation: the deck has been diamond ground and will be resurfaced with 1.5 inches of hot-mix asphalt to extend its service life.

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Additional work includes modifying the Keystone Avenue interchange ramps to improve sidewalk connections and provide longer turn lanes. The bridge over Keystone Avenue, along with some concrete pavement, was reconstructed in 2020-21 and will not be affected, as it was built in anticipation of a lane addition.

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The Hanna Avenue bridge is being fully replaced with a wider structure to allow an additional travel lane between the I-465/I-69 and Keystone Avenue interchanges. The new bridge will include two lanes and a multi-use path.

To date, work has included demolishing the existing bridge, excavating for new abutments, driving piles for the supports, constructing the center pier, and setting half of the new beams. The beam placement occurred on the night of Thursday, September 11.

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INDOT is also replacing smaller corrugated pipe storm drains along the median and cross drains with larger concrete tiles to improve drainage. The existing concrete pavement in this area, now nearly 30 years old, will be reconstructed with new high-performance joint-reinforced concrete pavement. Other areas will receive a milling of the asphalt pavement to the original concrete base, full-depth concrete patching, and a structural three-layer hot-mix asphalt overlay.

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