US 31 Hamilton County, Indiana

[mukade]

Anyone care to guess after South Bend/Plymouth, Kokomo and Hamilton County projects are finished how much it would cost to upgrade the remaining portions of US-31 to Interstate standards?

The goal is to build an interstate standard freeway from Indy to South Bend.  The remaining portions between SR 38 and Northern Tipton County (Kokomo project) and from US 35 (Kokomo) to Plymouth won't be nearly as expensive as the other projects under cosntruction because they will stay in the same footprint and are primary rural.  Figure a rural road overpass roughly every three miles, one railroad overpass, and three standard diamond interchanges for the Rural Hamilton - Tipton County piece.  There are some homes that will require either demolition or frontage roads that will also need to be figured in.

The part of US 31 north of Peru will be significantly less expensive to build than the three sections now being built, but from SR 38 to Kokomo and Kokomo to Peru, there are some thorny issues. North of SR 38 to Kokomo, one carriageway will have to be "flattened". They won't keep the old roadway. As for frequency of overpasses, I would guess it would be one every two miles on average. Finally, the number of homes and businesses to be demolished is quite high so costs will add up quickly.

North of Peru, the highway is up to modern standards and the population density drops a lot. Therefore, fewer overpasses and interchanges and little or no reconstruction will be required. The biggest headache is just north of US 24 where a truck stop and state police post sit very close to the existing interchange.

[theline]

I've wondered about the area just north of the US 24 interchange. That is a very busy truck stop that is very close to the road and close to the ramps. The state has to either buy out the truck stop or realign the interchange. Neither alternative will be cheap.

[tdindy88]

They could always move both the truck stop and police post onto US 24 to the east of that interchange, the first intersection is with County Road 210 North, which happens to lead into the same road that crosses US 31 where those two are at right now. As I see it now, that truck stop was built there to serve traffic on both US 31 and US 24, and moving it to that location would still serve that purpose for US 31 traffic.

[theline]

That makes sense. Put up a big sign on the east side of 31 and blue signs leading up to the exit, and motorists would know to exit there for services. They'd have to put a traffic signal at the corner of 210 and 24, but that would work.

[mukade]

Don't read anything political into this other than I like Major Moves.

One of my daughters works at a Purdue University extension campus, and was given the job of escorting Mitch Daniels (the new president of Purdue University) around that campus on a half day visit. I had asked her to thank him for the Major Moves for me so she actually did. She said he smiled and said "thanks, I appreciate that!". Then he went on to say he really likes to have roads built because they help the economy now, but that investment will continue helping society a hundred years from now.

As we live near US 31, he started telling her about how US 31 will be built all the way from Indy to South Bend and should help the cities along the whole route. So, obviously, roads are a big passion for him, and he thinks US 31 will be completed.

My daughter was impressed that he knew everyone's name, learned all about the people he met, was willing to talk and listen to everyone, and was generally a very humble man.

[NWI_Irish96]

http://www.in.gov/activecalendar/EventList.aspx?view=EventDetails&eventidn=108086&information_id=183515&type=&syndicate=syndicate

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood today informed Governor Mike Pence by phone that future U.S. 31 Hamilton County construction has been approved to use 90 percent federal funding, an increase above the 80 percent maximum for non-interstate projects.

It doesn't appear that there will be any visible impact on the construction or its timeline, but the state will have to foot about $23 million less of the bill for the work.

[theline]

Indiana is the first state to use a new provision in the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP-21) transportation legislation that Governor Pence supported while in Congress.

The gov supported MAP-21 during his former life as a tax and spend liberal Democrat conservative Republican Congressman.  Not to say that it's a bad thing.

[silverback1065]

I've driven through this project on my way to Kokomo.  It's coming along pretty fast, a lot of the bridges appear to be very far along on their construction, I believe that this fall, they plan to shift traffic to these new lanes. 

[mukade]

Award is pending for the section of US 31 from 96th St to 136th St. The winning bid is $150M for about 5 miles.

INDOT Official Bid Results document

[bmeiser]

Last Saturday I noticed a new sign assembly on SB US31 just north of the new 161st street interchange.  I went back today and took some pictures of the sign assembly and the construction progress.



A view down the construction of the southbound lanes before switching over to the northbound lanes.


Anybody know what these letters are for?  They go in order starting with B and ending with F.

[monty]

I think the alpha letters are to identify construction gates, for example, to direct trucks and crews to enter at gate B.

[bmeiser]

I think the alpha letters are to identify construction gates, for example, to direct trucks and crews to enter at gate B.

Ah, thanks.  That makes sense.

[silverback1065]

I asked an inspector on the project and he estimated that it's about 60% done.

[NWI_Irish96]

http://www.in.gov/activecalendar/EventList.aspx?fromdate=8%2F1%2F2013&todate=8%2F31%2F2013&display=Month&type=public&eventidn=118181&view=EventDetails&information_id=186291

WESTFIELD, Ind. — The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) has awarded a $141 million contract for The New U.S. 31 Hamilton County freeway upgrades between 96th and 136th streets to a joint venture between E & B Paving of Anderson and Gradex of Indianapolis. The contract includes U.S. 31 interchange improvements at I-465 and new roundabout interchanges at 106th, 116th, 131st and 136th streets.

The project to upgrade U.S. 31 to freeway standards will require temporary highway and local roadway closures, which will be scheduled sequentially and limited in duration to minimize inconvenience to residents, businesses and motorists.  Complete closure of U.S. 31 between 136th Street and the Old Meridian Street ramp north of 116th Street will significantly expedite construction and is expected in 2015.

Contractors will provide a general schedule in the near future, but preliminary work could begin as early as this fall. All improvements are expected to be open to traffic by the end of 2015.

The New U.S. 31 Hamilton County is the first project to use new federal transportation legislation allowing up to 90 percent federal funding to be used for critical freight projects, an increase above the 80 percent maximum for non-interstate routes. An award for the final contract for The New U.S. 31 Hamilton County, which includes a new single-point urban interchange at State Road 32 in Westfield, is expected to be announced later this month.

Upgrading or bypassing congested sections of U.S. 31, when completed, are expected to cut a half hour off travel time between Indianapolis and South Bend. Upgrading the existing highway between I-465 and State Road 38 to interstate standards is the largest and most aggressive road project ever attempted in Hamilton County. The New U.S. 31 Hamilton County project is intended to reduce congestion, improve safety and provide continuity of commerce and regional travel for a U.S. highway that stretches from Michigan to Alabama. More information is on the Web at www.us31hamiltoncounty.IN.gov.

[mukade]

It looks like the last section of US 31 Hamilton County up to 203rd St. will we awarded to Rieth Riley for around $63M.

INDOT Apparent Bid Results

[NWI_Irish96]

It looks like the last section of US 31 Hamilton County up to 203rd St. will we awarded to Rieth Riley for around $63M.

INDOT Apparent Bid Results

That link was not for US 31 work (Coincidentally, it was for work just a couple miles from my house.)

[bmeiser]

It looks like the last section of US 31 Hamilton County up to 203rd St. will we awarded to Rieth Riley for around $63M.

INDOT Apparent Bid Results

That link was not for US 31 work (Coincidentally, it was for work just a couple miles from my house.)

Pages 2 and 3 are for the section in question.  Page 1 is for work near Jeffersonville.

[NWI_Irish96]

It looks like the last section of US 31 Hamilton County up to 203rd St. will we awarded to Rieth Riley for around $63M.

INDOT Apparent Bid Results

That link was not for US 31 work (Coincidentally, it was for work just a couple miles from my house.)

Pages 2 and 3 are for the section in question.  Page 1 is for work near Jeffersonville.

OK, for some reason, I only got the first page when I opened it. 

[silverback1065]

161st street bridge will open Thursday the 15th.  I'm not sure if the interchange will be open as well. I think that means no traffic lights between 136th and 169th once this section is complete this year.

[silverback1065]

has anyone been able to confirm this?

[thefro]

has anyone been able to confirm this?

They sent out a news release on Friday

http://us31hamiltoncounty.in.gov/216.html

New Roundabout Interchange Open at 161st Street and U.S. 31


WESTFIELD, Ind. — Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) contractor Rieth-Riley Construction has opened The New U.S. 31 Hamilton County interchange at 161st Street.

The interchange replaces the former intersection at U.S. 31 and 161st Street, which closed in April to allow crews to construct a new bridge and ramp system with roundabouts controlling ramp and cross traffic on 161st Street.

Access to and from U.S. 31 via the new ramp system and roundabouts on 161st Street are now open, but 161st Street west of Farr Hills Drive will remain closed while the City of Westfield continues to improve the intersection with the Monon Trail by creating a more pedestrian-friendly crossing.  Work is expected to be completed by October 20th.

[silverback1065]

Why is 169th street known as David Brown Drive east of 31?  Who's David Brown?

[NE2]

Why is 169th street known as David Brown Drive east of 31?  Who's David Brown?

A murderer: http://www.ai.org/judiciary/opinions/pdf/04200701cld.pdf

[bmeiser]

A portion of the ramp system that will eventually connect southbound US 31 to 151st Street, Greyhound Pass and 146th Street has opened:

http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs123/1112548744559/archive/1114626884961.html

[silverback1065]

Wow this project is really coming along