Update on I-69 Extension in Indiana

[Strider]

I'm curious... based on so many bridge piers built on the photos, is it also the floodplains that I-69 will go across in addition to the Ohio River, or are they dry lands prior to the Ohio River?

[silverback1065]

I'm curious... based on so many bridge piers built on the photos, is it also the floodplains that I-69 will go across in addition to the Ohio River, or are they dry lands prior to the Ohio River?

floodplains

[Rick Powell]

I'm curious... based on so many bridge piers built on the photos, is it also the floodplains that I-69 will go across in addition to the Ohio River, or are they dry lands prior to the Ohio River?

floodplains

In general, there is no reason to build on piers approaching a river unless the land is either in a flood plain, a federally protected wetland, or both, where building on fill would have negative effects on flooding or environmental quality. Roads on structure are typically more expensive to build and maintain.

[abqtraveler]

I'm curious... based on so many bridge piers built on the photos, is it also the floodplains that I-69 will go across in addition to the Ohio River, or are they dry lands prior to the Ohio River?

floodplains

In general, there is no reason to build on piers approaching a river unless the land is either in a flood plain, a federally protected wetland, or both, where building on fill would have negative effects on flooding or environmental quality. Roads on structure are typically more expensive to build and maintain.

Those piers are for the viaducts that will carry I-69 over the Ohio River floodplain. That area in particular is very prone to flooding whenever there is prolonged rainfall or spring snowmelt, so it makes sense to elevate the highway so it's not shut down every spring when the river floods.

[RoadWarrior56]

As an ex-Evansville resident myself and for many subsequent years while my parents still lived there while they were alive, I can agree with the last post.  Waterworks Road, which travels through the Ohio River floodplain on west side of US 41, was and is flooded and closed to traffic numerous years during the late winter and early spring.

[Rick Powell]

Those piers are for the viaducts that will carry I-69 over the Ohio River floodplain. That area in particular is very prone to flooding whenever there is prolonged rainfall or spring snowmelt, so it makes sense to elevate the highway so it's not shut down every spring when the river floods.

It's not so much the potential flooding on the I-69 pavement that requires a bridge section in the floodplain; INDOT could have built the bridge approaches on a high fill far above the potential flood elevation, and probably cheaper than a land bridge. But by doing so, they would likely cause backwater that would endanger the surrounding properties during flood events. Meeting the floodplain permit requirements for design and construction of I-69 was likely the biggest influence on what is being built.

[KelleyCook]

I'm curious... based on so many bridge piers built on the photos, is it also the floodplains that I-69 will go across in addition to the Ohio River, or are they dry lands prior to the Ohio River?

This part of the Ohio has one of the nations larger floodplains.  This was three months ago at the intersection with Green River road a mile and a half east of where the bridge piers were being built.  Its nominally 1.7 miles from the bridge to the "official" bank of the river.

Openstreet map: https://osm.org/go/ZRP0d0tV-



credit: https://103gbfrocks.com/aerial-photos-evansville-flooding/

[Strider]

Alright. Makes sense. Thank you for the response, guys!

[mgk920]

Isn't the south floodplain at that point in the Ohio River entirely in Kentucky?

Mike

[Life in Paradise]

Isn't the south floodplain at that point in the Ohio River entirely in Kentucky?

Mike

Not entirely.  On a Google map, normally along a line of where "Waterworks Road" is in Evansville is a big part of the line.  From the viewpoint of that drone photo, Indiana's ownership goes all the way to the bank, and is actually a few feet in the Ohio River water normally.

[ITB]

Beam setting for the Indiana approach viaduct bridges is beginning this week.

Also, we should be hearing soon about INDOT and KYTC's most recent DOT grant application for the new ORX bridge.

And, finally, here's a news report, with pictures, from late February detailing the flooding in and around the Indiana I-69 work zone in Evansville. 

[ITB]

More photos of the construction of the Indiana approach to the future Ohio River bridge, grabbed from the ORX Project website:


Credit: I-69 Ohio River Crossing                                                                                                 Photo date: August 18, 2025
Beams are now in place along sections of the southbound viaduct; looking south toward the Ohio River.


Credit: I-69 Ohio River Crossing                                                                                                 Photo date: August 18, 2025
Closer look.


Credit: I-69 Ohio River Crossing                                                                                                 Photo date: August 18, 2025
Turning around, the view looking north. Here an embankment is being built up to support the future I-69 roadways. The process is called loose lift. Another smaller embankment also will be built at the other end of the viaduct. In the mid-background, peaking through gaps in the trees, is I-69.


Credit: I-69 Ohio River Crossing                                                                                                 Photo date: August 18, 2025
Another shot looking north. Work should be getting underway in upcoming months on the pier foundations for the northbound viaduct.


Credit: I-69 Ohio River Crossing                                                                                                 Photo date: August 18, 2025
Foundation work continues for the piers of the viaduct that will carry the southbound I-69 mainline near the future I-69/Veterans Memorial Parkway interchange; looking southwest.


Credit: I-69 Ohio River Crossing                                                                                                 Photo date: August 2025
Setting the beams for the southbound viaduct; looking south.



Credit: I-69 Ohio River Crossing                                                                                                 Photo date: July 22, 2025
Another perspective of the beam placing work; looking northeast.


Credit: I-69 Ohio River Crossing                                                                                                 Photo date: July 22, 2025
Closer look.


Credit: I-69 Ohio River Crossing                                                                                                 Photo date: August 2025
Transport vehicles lined up awaiting beam placement.


Credit: I-69 Ohio River Crossing                                                                                                 Photo date: August 2025
After beam placement; looking slightly northeast.


Credit: I-69 Ohio River Crossing                                                                                                 Photo date: August 2025
Closer look, with stacks of deck pans in the foreground.


Credit: I-69 Ohio River Crossing                                                                                                 Photo date: July 22, 2025
Beam lift. These long and heavy beams are handled extra carefully.


Credit: I-69 Ohio River Crossing                                                                                                 Photo date: July 22, 2025
Another view.

Guys, a few hours after I posted the pictures I noticed a couple of glaring mistakes in the captions. Seems my thinking cap had earlier slipped off for a moment. I have corrected the errors. Please, if anyone notices a meaningful mistake in any of my posts, please let me know so I can make a correction. Thanks.

[vtk]

Fifth photo, you say "looking northwest". Is that not a view looking southwest?

[Life in Paradise]

I saw the trucks being escorted down I-69 north of Evansville on their way to this destination.  Those I beams are truly lllooonnnggg (long).  They truly needed the police escort on the way.

[ITB]

Fifth photo, you say "looking northwest". Is that not a view looking southwest?

Yup. It is indeed a perspective looking southwest. Nice catch. Thanks.

[ITB]

Yesterday, US Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy toured the ORX approach worksite in Indiana. He was joined by Indiana Governor Mike Braun and Indiana Senator Todd Young, among others.

Another report of Duffy's visit includes video of the event's speeches and remarks. For convenience, here's the link to the video:

https://www.wane.com/video/i-69-sean-duffy-full-press-conference/11055040

[abqtraveler]

Yesterday, US Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy toured the ORX approach worksite in Indiana. He was joined by Indiana Governor Mike Braun and Indiana Senator Todd Young, among others.

Another report of Duffy's visit includes video of the event's speeches and remarks. For convenience, here's the link to the video:

https://www.wane.com/video/i-69-sean-duffy-full-press-conference/11055040

I was hoping that they would announce award of a big grant or something to jumpstart construction on the bridge. Unfortunately, that didn't happen.

[OrangeBlossom]

Hello.  I found this site because of this topic.  I was looking up information on the Gordon Pike Fullerton Pike connection in relation to I-69  Great photography in this topic.  Thank you ITB.

I note that the Gordon Pike and Fullerton Pike connection is still not open.  A ribbon cutting ceremony had been set for Sept. 11, but that has been postponed and no new date established.  Also the cost sky rocketed due to a great deal more rock removal than anticipated.

Sources: https://www.in.gov/counties/monroe/infrastructure/highway-department/road-closings-and-construction/

https://www.heraldtimesonline.com/story/news/2025/09/08/decades-in-the-making-major-monroe-county-connector-to-open-in-days/85978645007/ <-- possibly behind a pay wall.

I have observed construction on the 46/45 bypass between Kinser Pike and I-69.  It looks like a new exit ramp from the bypass is being constructed.  Thus far, I haven't been able to determine to what.  I thought at first to I-69, but that doesn't make sense.  There is also a bridge I now drive under shortly before driving on the bridge over I-69.  I don't know what that bridge is for. It wasn't there when I worked in that area roughly 20 years ago.

This topic answered a number of questions I recently had when I started driving on I-69/37 again.  I live in the very southern part of Monroe County, so the highway in MY mind is 37.  I was startled to see the 37 signs down.  A bit awkward for those coming to the highway from 46 for example and wanting to go to Bedford.  Unless they KNOW to turn onto I-69 to get there, there is no clue.  The exit sign shows I-69 and 45 and Evansville.  No Bedford listed.  Fortunately, I DO know.  I was also startled at the increased speed limit which had been 55 in Bloomington city limits.  It's now 65, though I swear folks are driving 80 and 90.  This thread answered those questions for me.

I see more signs in Bloomington that say To I-69.  Those signs weren't there even a few weeks ago.  One of them is at the intersection of Business 37 and Country Club/Tapp and many other names.

[silverback1065]

I believe the construction on 45/46 near Kinser is for a J-Turn. That's what it looked like when I drove through a while ago.

[ITB]

Hello.  I found this site because of this topic.  I was looking up information on the Gordon Pike Fullerton Pike connection in relation to I-69  Great photography in this topic.  Thank you ITB.

I note that the Gordon Pike and Fullerton Pike connection is still not open.  A ribbon cutting ceremony had been set for Sept. 11, but that has been postponed and no new date established.  Also the cost sky rocketed due to a great deal more rock removal than anticipated.

Thank you for kind comment. The Fullerton Pike extension should be opening any day now. It might even be open right now. The cost of the project did increase modestly due to the rock removal and other issues, but that's to be expected in these kinds of projects. Nothing unusual.

I have observed construction on the 46/45 bypass between Kinser Pike and I-69.  It looks like a new exit ramp from the bypass is being constructed.  Thus far, I haven't been able to determine to what.  I thought at first to I-69, but that doesn't make sense.  There is also a bridge I now drive under shortly before driving on the bridge over I-69.  I don't know what that bridge is for. It wasn't there when I worked in that area roughly 20 years ago.

The construction you've noticed is for a new connector road between Stone Lake Drive and Arlington Road. Located just north of SR 45/46, Stone Lake Drive provides access to an elementary school and two motels. While access to Stone Lake Drive from SR 45/46 will be maintained, the new connector road is intended to increase access and to reduce traffic entering and exiting from SR 45/46.

The bridge crossing over SR 45/46 just prior to the I-69/SR 46/45 interchange carries Arlington Road. A bit further to the northwest, Arlington Road itself crosses over I-69, and continues on until it intersects with SR 46 near Ellettsville.

In days long past, Arlington Road was the main route from Bloomington to Ellettsville and points further west. I'm not sure exactly when the Arlington Road bridge over SR 45/46 was built, but it's possible it was part of the project when the SR 37/SR 46 intersection was upgraded to an interchange.

[ITB]

With the Fullerton Pike extension project mentioned again recently, I decided to check how things were coming along. As some of you already know, this is a new road project on the south side of Bloomington that connects Fullerton Pike from the I-69/Fullerton Pike to Gordon Pike. This project had been on the planning boards for a long time, and it took the upgrade of SR 37 to I-69 for it to finally move forward.

At this time, the project is all but finished, with only minor checklist items, like striping, to be completed. The road should open to traffic next week or perhaps the week after. The total cost is estimated to be around $19 million, which is modestly above the contract bid.

Photos were taken Friday, September  19, 2025.


Looking east from near the Fullerton Pike/Rockport Road intersection. The road is stunningly wide at the point I was standing, I'd guess about 60 feet. It's designed to carry four lanes plus bike paths on each side. That's in addition to a separate multi-use path and a concrete sidewalk.

Note the vehicle coming westbound across the bridge. There's always a few who think, "Well, it looks complete to me." At another project, I've actually witnessed a driver stop and move barricades. That wasn't the case here, as someone earlier had already done it.


Closer look with the zoom lens. Note the multi-use path as well as the new connection to the Clear Creek Trail, which goes underneath the bridge.


Another view of the bridge and the multi-use path, which is separated from the driving lanes by a barrier wall topped with railing.


Closer look. They didn't go cheap on the fencing.


Another long range view, looking east.


The upgraded Fullerton Pike/Rockport Road intersection, now featuring traffic signals; looking west. At the crest of the hill in the background is the eastern roundabout of the I-69/Fullerton Pike interchange.


Another perspective looking east.


Bridge falsework supports in the creek. Someone's going to have to get their toes wet.


Here she comes, probably saying to herself, "I'm tired of going around the long way."


One more. Nice late summer day for a ride.