More US 31 upgrades between Indy and South Bend

[NWI_Irish96]

this would be a direct route designation and would avoid a 100+ mile detour to I-69. Chicago to Kansas City has had several all freeway alternatives

Not sure how you're getting a 100+ mile detour to I-69.

Indy to Grand Rapids via:
US 31/I-196: 260 miles
I-69/I-94/US 131: 298 miles
I-69/I-96: 309 miles

Also 305 miles via I-65/I-94/I-196

[JREwing78]

Looking at that list of metro areas, note the ones along I-70 are 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in growth. (Let's ignore St. Louis for now)

Midwest rank	Metro area	2020 Population	Growth since 1950
1	Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN Metro Area	9,408,576	175.03%
2	Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI Metro Area	4,400,578	138.54%
3	Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI Metro Area	3,757,952	274.11%
4	St. Louis, MO-IL Metro Area	2,811,927	167.74%
5	Cincinnati,  Metro Area	2,302,815	181.31%
6	Kansas City, MO-KS Metro Area	2,253,579	269.17%
7	Columbus, OH Metro Area	2,225,377	424.89%
8	Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN Metro Area	2,111,040**	382.59%
9	Cleveland, OH Metro Area	2,171,877	124.23%
10	Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI Metro Area	1,574,452	155.27%
11	Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN Metro Area	1,394,234	241.96%
12	Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI Metro Area	1,178,826	252.22%
13	Omaha, NE-IA Metro Area	1,001,010	264.09%

Now look at the I-65 Corridor. Chicago isn't leading in growth, but at 9.4 million it added more people than Columbus in the past 70 years. Louisville's growth rate is relatively strong. One will also note the strong growth of Nashville (345% population growth since 1950) driving traffic growth.

Midwest rank	Metro area	2020 Population	Growth since 1950
1	Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN Metro Area	9,408,576	175.03%
2	Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI Metro Area	4,400,578	138.54%
3	Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI Metro Area	3,757,952	274.11%
4	St. Louis, MO-IL Metro Area	2,811,927	167.74%
5	Cincinnati,  Metro Area	2,302,815	181.31%
6	Kansas City, MO-KS Metro Area	2,253,579	269.17%
7	Columbus, OH Metro Area	2,225,377	424.89%
8	Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN Metro Area	2,111,040**	382.59%
9	Cleveland, OH Metro Area	2,171,877	124.23%
10	Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI Metro Area	1,574,452	155.27%
11	Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN Metro Area	1,394,234	241.96%
12	Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI Metro Area	1,178,826	252.22%
13	Omaha, NE-IA Metro Area	1,001,010	264.09%

The Grand Rapids metro area is seeing comparable growth, so it's no surprise that traffic along US-31 is seeing growth along with it. The South Bend/Elkhart/Mishawaka area hasn't enjoyed the growth of Grand Rapids or Indianapolis, but it still has 164% the population that it did in 1950. The US-31 corridor is also important to carry tourist traffic to and from west Michigan. The push to improve safety by removing crossing traffic and stoplights will pay larger dividends as traffic builds.

If 30 or 40 years down the road they bring the route completely up to Interstate standards, an I-67 designation between Grand Rapids and Indianapolis makes a lot of sense. The I-67 designation could also be extended northward to meet I-75 between Gaylord and Mackinac City, and south to Bowling Green via Jasper and Owensboro. 

[ysuindy]

One of the INDOT twitter accounts has posted northbound 31 on the Kokomo Bypass has reopened

[monty]

One of the INDOT twitter accounts has posted northbound 31 on the Kokomo Bypass has reopened

Confirmed. Good to see it open.

[Great Lakes Roads]

https://www.wndu.com/2026/01/12/indot-implements-temporary-safety-measures-dangerous-marshall-county-intersection/

Temporary safety improvements are coming to the US 31/SR 10 intersection in Argos. It does the following:
- lowering the speed limit from 60 to 50 miles per hour
- installing rumble strips in driving lanes
- adding paving markings to the median

EDIT- A J-turn will be coming to this intersection this summer.

[I-55]

https://www.wndu.com/2026/01/12/indot-implements-temporary-safety-measures-dangerous-marshall-county-intersection/

Temporary safety improvements are coming to the US 31/SR 10 intersection in Argos. It does the following:
- lowering the speed limit from 60 to 50 miles per hour
- installing rumble strips in driving lanes
- adding paving markings to the median

EDIT- A J-turn will be coming to this intersection this summer.

That's a great way to implement a speed trap. No way anyone is slowing down for that. Not to mention the fact that the interchange is proposed to be constructed in 2028. The same state that just said it had to shelve 300 projects is saying they have a couple million to construct an intersection that won't even last two years.

[monty]

"INDOT will begin construction on the J-turn this summer, while plans for an entirely new interchange in 2028 continue to move forward."

Interesting twist. Most North Central US 31 communities have been quite adamant in their opposition to J turns. This appears to be a mediated effort in the name of safety. Of course, a promise of a coming true interchange helps a lot.

I think INDOT may install a lot of "temporary" upgrades to rural intersections across the US 31 corridor as 1-10 year band-aids until the funding stream improves. It fits into the ProPel US 31 study results. My fear is the band-aids become permanent if funding remains tight.

Driving the corridor from Carmel to SR 26 (Kokomo), one observes that the median cable barricade is being installed and there are very few remaining inhabited houses / farms / businesses with their respective driveways and crossovers being removed. 

The newest freeway segment from the southern Tipton County line southward to SR 38 is really taking shape.

[ITB]

"INDOT will begin construction on the J-turn this summer, while plans for an entirely new interchange in 2028 continue to move forward."

Wondering what prompted the quick J-turn decision, I asked Gemini AI if any incidents had happened recently at the intersection. It returned this:

There has been a string of significant accidents at the intersection of US 31 and State Road 10 in Argos over the last several weeks, which has prompted emergency safety changes from state officials.

Recent Fatal and Major Accidents

• December 28, 2025: An 80-year-old Culver woman was killed in a two-vehicle crash when her vehicle entered the path of southbound traffic on US 31.

• December 21, 2025: A rollover crash occurred due to a failure to yield. The Argos Police Department released dashcam footage of the incident to highlight the danger of the intersection.

• December 6, 2025: A major collision between a semi-tractor-trailer and a Chevy Equinox resulted in two fatalities (the driver and a passenger of the Chevy).

• September 2025: Three people, including two children, were injured and required medical helicopters for transport following a two-vehicle wreck at the same spot.

Emergency Safety Measures (As of January 2026)

Due to the frequency of these crashes—four occurring in December alone—the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) and Indiana State Police announced immediate interim changes this week (January 13, 2026):

• Speed Limit Reduction: The speed limit on US 31 near the intersection has been lowered from 60 mph to 50 mph.

• Increased Enforcement: State Troopers have increased patrols; they reportedly issued over 50 tickets and warnings in this area last Saturday alone.

• Infrastructure Changes: Crews are installing rumble strips in the driving lanes and adding new pavement markings in the median to alert drivers.

• Long-term Plan: A full interchange (bridge/exit system) is planned for construction beginning in 2028 to replace the current at-grade crossing.

[Rothman]

Hm.  Wonder how accurate that information is.  AI always seems to throw in some garbage with the good.

[ITB]

Hm.  Wonder how accurate that information is.  AI always seems to throw in some garbage with the good.

Souces (per Gemini AI):

• Temporary changes at SR 10 and US 31 (WYMR FM Max 98.3)

• Another fatal crash at U.S. 31 and S.R. 10 (Parke County Post, powered by Giant fm)

• WATCH: Failure to yield leads to rollover crash at US 31 and S.R. 10 (abc57, South Bend)

• Three injured at U.S. 31 & S.R. 10 Friday evening (Marshall County Post, powered by Giant fm)

• INDOT announces interim measures for dangerous US-31, State Road 10 intersection (WSBT-TV, via YouTube)

[JREwing78]

The stepped-up enforcement is handy, and I suspect the J-turn will help considerably once implemented. 

It shouldn't cost that much to execute in "temporary" fashion:

• throw up some concrete barriers to block the existing intersection
• grade and pave turn lanes roughly 500' from the intersection at east end
• Add a set of blinker lights at each end and appropriate signage

[The Ghostbuster]

A J-turn would likely help, but is it worth it to build one now only to replace it with an interchange in two years? A 10-year window of building a J-turn intersection, and then building an interchange would make more sense to me.

[JREwing78]

A J-turn would likely help, but is it worth it to build one now only to replace it with an interchange in two years? A 10-year window of building a J-turn intersection, and then building an interchange would make more sense to me.

It sounded like from the InDOT articles this is a knee-jerk reaction to the high rate of crashes happening lately. They originally wanted to do the J-turn, but locals were pushing for an interchange. So they planned for the interchange. 

Now, under locals' demands to "DO SOMETHING", the J-turn is now back on the table.

[sprjus4]

A J-turn would likely help, but is it worth it to build one now only to replace it with an interchange in two years? A 10-year window of building a J-turn intersection, and then building an interchange would make more sense to me.

If it can prevent accidents, let alone a fatal accident, then it's worth it.

[ITB]

INDOT has scheduled an open house meeting for the upcoming US 31 improvements in Marshall and Fulton counties. It will take place February 19, 2026 from 5:30pm to 7:30pm at Argos Community Jr.-Sr. High School in Argos. In addition to the planned long-term improvements, INDOT will also share the interim safety measures for the SR 10 intersection.

Since the previous open house in March of 2025, the project has been modified to include an additional overpass — at 19th Road in Marshall County. The scope of the Marshall-Fulton US 31 improvements now encompass two interchanges (at SR 10 and SR 110) and two overpasses (at CR 700 in Fulton County and 19th Road), as well as access control upgrades.

The entire project, which has been pushed back about six months, will be let in two separate contracts. The first letting, which will include the SR 10 interchange and the CR 700 overpass, is tentatively planned to take place in February of 2028, with construction commencing in the summer of that year. The second, for the SR 110 interchange and 19th Road overpass, plus access control, is projected to take place in December of 2029, with construction following in the spring of 2030.

Gauging the scope of the work planned, it appears the long-term improvements will pencil in at between $75–$90 million. While contract lettings and construction are still two years away, the project is steadily moving forward.

[Great Lakes Roads]

https://www.wndu.com/2026/01/30/officials-discuss-interchange-plans-dangerous-marshall-county-intersection/

The city of Argos wants the intersection of Dewey Street (south of the proposed SR 10 interchange) to remain open as a "right-in/right-out" (RIRO)... 

[tosa]

Seems like they're trying to preserve US-31 access for ITAMCO?

[I-55]

Seems like they're trying to preserve US-31 access for ITAMCO?

That's how it appears anyway, though if they're doing RIRO treatment this wont help anyone using the NB side of 31. IMO if you're going to build a rural interchange like this you shouldn't need to have at-grade access points for at least 1-2 miles in either direction. Argos would be better suited looking into upgrading Linden Rd than sacrificing the integrity of the US 31 corridor.

[JREwing78]

If the location of an interchange is that vital to ITAMCO's operations, they can pay for it themselves.

[ITB]

Another fatal crash

There has been another crash in Marshall County resulting in a fatality. This time it happened at the US 31/SR 110 intersection at 3:30pm in the afternoon.

These sad, repeated incidents illustrate how important it is to eliminate all at-grade crossings on US 31. It will take time, but it needs to happen. Upgrading US 31 to freeway standards between Indianapolis and South Bend will significantly enhance safety while, at the same time, provide an energetic economic boost to the north central Indiana region.

[The Ghostbuster]

To build an interchange at IN 110, the southbound ramps could be in a diamond interchange configuration, and the northbound ramps could be in a partial cloverleaf configuration. This would avoid infringing on the landfill that is southeast of the existing intersection.

[I-55]

To build an interchange at IN 110, the southbound ramps could be in a diamond interchange configuration, and the northbound ramps could be in a partial cloverleaf configuration. This would avoid infringing on the landfill that is southeast of the existing intersection.

The RFP archives list an interchange at SR 110 in the same package as the other Marshall Co improvements. Most LOIs submitted show some form of diamond interchange at this intersection. One of the options shown was the parclo option as you described.

https://pscsrfp.indot.in.gov/Item/RfpItem?rfpId=1851

[monty]

INDOT Argos update:
REMINDER: INDOT is hosting an open house regarding improvements on U.S. 31 in Marshall and Fulton Counties.

📅 Thursday, February 19
⏰ 5:30-7:30pm ET (no formal presentation, attend anytime during that window)
📍Argos Community Jr.-Sr. High School, 500 Yearick Street, Argos, IN 46501

Learn more: bit.ly/MarshallFultonUS31Corridor

[monty]

Map and timeline here: https://www.in.gov/indot/images/US-31-Corridor-Handout-Front_Website.jpg

[cjw2001]

I've been seeing work crews installing the support posts for the new median cable barrier between 116th and 156th on US 31 in Hamilton County the last few days.