Indiana Notes

[ITB]

Here's a picture I took of a convenience store/gas station in New Unionville, Monroe County, Indiana, to document the price of gasoline in early 2026.


Photo date: January 7, 2026
The Lakeside Market on State Road 45 in New Unionville, Indiana, about 10 miles east of downtown Bloomington.

And a different perspective of the store:


Photo date: January 7, 2026

[Great Lakes Roads]

Here are some proposed bills in the 2026 legislative session that involves transportation:

SB 149: Tolling transponders
"Allows a person who: (1) lives or works in a county where there is a toll road or tollway; and (2) pays for tolls assessed while driving on the toll road or tollway with a transponder; to apply for a credit to be added to the person's qualifying account for use towards future tolls. Provides that a person who pays for tolls using a transponder that is connected to a qualified account that is not registered to: (1) the person; (2) the person's employer; (3) a car rental company that owns the car being driven by the person; or (4) another person with the same permanent residence as the person; commits a Class B misdemeanor."

HB 1083: Lane expansion of I-70
"Requires the Indiana department of transportation to take action necessary to construct one or more additional lanes of traffic across Indiana for: (1) eastbound; and (2) westbound; Interstate Highway 70 in areas of Interstate Highway 70 where there are four lanes of traffic. Makes an appropriation."

HB 1319: Collection of toll road user fees
"Requires the Indiana department of transportation to establish and implement an electronic or nonmanual tolling program as the sole means for charging and collecting user fees. Provides that a public-private agreement between the Indiana finance authority and an operator that is entered into, renewed, or amended after June 30, 2026, must contain a provision requiring the operator to establish and implement an electronic or nonmanual tolling program as the sole means for charging and collecting user fees."

[Plutonic Panda]

I don't care about the first one. I hope the second one becomes reality and I hope the third one dies.

[I-55]

I don't care about the first one. I hope the second one becomes reality and I hope the third one dies.

From what I see in the third one, it would basically say that the ITRCC and whatever entity operates the new tolls would have to operate an open road tolling system, which is badly needed on the Indiana Toll Road. I don't know what else I might be missing, but the premises I described I'm in full support of.

As for the other items, I agree on 2 and also indifferent on 1 as I don't have a toll road in my county.

[Plutonic Panda]

I don't care about the first one. I hope the second one becomes reality and I hope the third one dies.

From what I see in the third one, it would basically say that the ITRCC and whatever entity operates the new tolls would have to operate an open road tolling system, which is badly needed on the Indiana Toll Road. I don't know what else I might be missing, but the premises I described I'm in full support of.

As for the other items, I agree on 2 and also indifferent on 1 as I don't have a toll road in my county.

Personally, I just wish the feds would invest 90% in this given. It's part of an important cross country corridor, and it needs to be rebuilt and widened.

[Ted$8roadFan]

Yes, the Indiana Toll Road definitely needs open road tolling. When I drove it, the toll plaza didn't recognize my EZPass for several minutes, leading to a backup and lots of angry drivers behind me. Luckily, it worked eventually. As for I-70, it is absolutely an important cross-country route needing rebuilding and expansion.

[silverback1065]

I love how they use "user fees" to hide the word tax or toll   

[Plutonic Panda]

My favorite one is choice lanes.

[seicer]

12 years after construction and the Kokomo bypass pavement is in remarkably poor condition:

2014 versus 2023

The recent rehabilitation project is bringing it back to good condition but have they identified a root cause?

[Life in Paradise]

The road is concrete, which the main bed should last 50 years and the concrete should not have to be resurfaced for 30+ years, although some spot repairs are normal.  Going down to street level it doesn't look as bad as from above.  There could be some nagging bad areas of the base (like we have seen on parts of I-164/I-69 that have appears in the past 10 years after the stretch was constructed around 1990), but it still looks like it has years to go.

[ITB]

12 years after construction and the Kokomo bypass pavement is in remarkably poor condition:

2014 versus 2023

The recent rehabilitation project is bringing it back to good condition but have they identified a root cause?

While INDOT and third parties are still investigating, several recent concrete pavement problems appear to stem from the use of Type 1L (Portland-Limestone Cement). This is a "greener" cement that includes more limestone (5%-15%) than traditional Portland cement concrete. INDOT allowed PLC to be used in projects starting in 2015. By 2022, it had become the primary cement used in the state's road and bridge projects.

Evidence, however, is showing that Type 1L cement/concrete seems to be more susceptible to Indiana's harsh freeze-thaw cycles due to the material's generally softer and more porous qualities. As a result, INDOT has been increasingly concerned about the concrete's long term durability.

Consequently, effective September 10, 2024, the department instituted a 10% cap on limestone content for state contracts. Also, an independent study is underway to determine if the issue is strictly the material or whether production/mixing methods need to be overhauled. According to the International Society for Concrete Pavements, experts consulted on the issue suggest that proper training is crucial, and that contractors need specific guidance on how to use the newer cement effectively to ensure optimal performance.

If it's proven the "greener" concrete indeed degrades faster than traditional Portland-cement concrete, INDOT may be looking at billions in remediation efforts. In hindsight, it was a serious miscalculation to allow Type 1L cement/concrete to be used without determining first its long-term durability. 

Bridges and roads constructed with concrete need to last multiple decades, from 30 to 50 years. Anything less is unacceptable. Durability must be the principle attribute of concrete. Period. If not durable, the desirability of concrete as a construction material for roads and bridges is greatly diminished.

Note: Because the U.S. 31 Kokomo Freeway was completed in November of 2013, the concrete used as pavement was either traditional Type I or Type II Portland cement. As noted above, INDOT only started to allow Type 1L cement/concrete in 2015, so the newer material did not play a factor in the deteriorating condition of the Kokomo pavement.

As for the root cause of the pavement's deterioration, it's probably either the failure of the subgrade or the use of substandard concrete. Sadly, corners may have been cut. It happens. Inexperience, too, may have played a role, for example, at the batch plant. Often, it's near impossible to determine "root" causes 10–12 years after the fact, other than to say "incorrectly performed subgrade work" or "bad concrete."

[Plutonic Panda]

I've seen PR statements by DOTs that say this thing has a design life of like 75 years or something.

[silverback1065]

I've seen PR statements by DOTs that say this thing has a design life of like 75 years or something.

that's from full reconstruction to full reconstruction. in between you have many patching and resurfacing jobs.

[ET21]

A proposed extension of I-65 is in one of the conceptual sites for a potential Bears stadium in Gary IN
https://www.fox32chicago.com/sports/gary-indiana-renderings-chicago-bears-stadium-sites

[NWI_Irish96]

A proposed extension of I-65 is in one of the conceptual sites for a potential Bears stadium in Gary IN
https://www.fox32chicago.com/sports/gary-indiana-renderings-chicago-bears-stadium-sites

The Hard Rock site (about 7 miles from my house) is the only realistic site.

[The Ghostbuster]

Is an Interstate 65 extension even necessary, even if the new Bears stadium is built in that location?

[I-55]

Is an Interstate 65 extension even necessary, even if the new Bears stadium is built in that location?

I don't know how else they'd be able to move the type of traffic volume a stadium generates without it. Getting to WB I-90 or I-80/94 would be a nightmare on the local network.

My ideal scenario if the Bears move there would be for the open road tolling bill mentioned earlier to pass, ITR implements toll point similar to PTC, and then the I-65 interchange is reconstructed to a more direct connection with I-90.

[Revive 755]

Is an Interstate 65 extension even necessary, even if the new Bears stadium is built in that location?

I don't know how else they'd be able to move the type of traffic volume a stadium generates without it. Getting to WB I-90 or I-80/94 would be a nightmare on the local network.

Looks like any extension of I-65 northeasterly would end up going through a portion of Indiana Dunes National Park.  Normally that would not go over well on a number of fronts.
The Hard Rock site might be feasible but the Borman has problems handling current traffic.

[NWI_Irish96]

The Hard Rock site might be feasible but the Borman has problems handling current traffic.

Fortunately Sunday is the lightest traffic day here so that wouldn't be so bad. Monday/Thursday night games would be a nightmare though.

I would hope that any package the state puts together for a stadium would include infrastructure improvements.

Probably a complete overhaul of at least the section between Cline and Grant. A completely revamped Burr St interchange that folds in Clark Rd and has double exit lanes.

Massive improvements to Cline Ave between the Borman and Toll Road, including adding a free-flowing interchange with the Toll Road.

Upgrades to the Gary Airport South Shore station, plus adding special game day trains and shuttles to the stadium.

It could definitely work, and I'd imagine that Hard Rock would be eager to invest in such a product. Yes, they already have their name on a stadium in Miami, but that's 8 miles away from their casino. This would be right next door.

[JREwing78]

Selfishly, I would prefer Site B (Buffington Harbor) next to the airport because it would seem the least likely to disrupt my commute through the area. 

Site A next to the casino would basically render the Borman a parking lot before and after games. Site C (Miller Beach) would also do this to a lesser degree, but the Toll Road would get a boost in use and associated toll revenue.

Sites B or C will likely compel the lessors of the Toll Road to *finally* 6-lane the section between both ends of IN-912 (Cline Ave). It would drive big revenue increases on both the Chicago Skyway and the Toll Road. 

All three sites create an opportunity for special "Game Day" train service to mitigate traffic demands. All three sites would likely drive InDOT to replace the missing EBD/SBD bridge over the Indiana Harbor and Ship Canal on IN-912 itself. 

[silverback1065]

Is an Interstate 65 extension even necessary, even if the new Bears stadium is built in that location?

I don't know how else they'd be able to move the type of traffic volume a stadium generates without it. Getting to WB I-90 or I-80/94 would be a nightmare on the local network.

Looks like any extension of I-65 northeasterly would end up going through a portion of Indiana Dunes National Park.  Normally that would not go over well on a number of fronts.
The Hard Rock site might be feasible but the Borman has problems handling current traffic.

That isn't the dunes, it's a local park owned by gary.

[vdeane]

That isn't the dunes, it's a local park owned by gary.

I'm assuming the city of Gary, but for a second I thought it was some random guy named Gary.

[Rothman]

That isn't the dunes, it's a local park owned by gary.

I'm assuming the city of Gary, but for a second I thought it was some random guy named Gary.

NPS map has it within its boundaries -- the slim triangle of green.

You can have private or other public land within the boundary of a National Park Service-managed site.

[Great Lakes Roads]

https://indianaflexroad.com/project-documents/

The Final Categorical Exclusion - Level 4 Environmental Document has been posted on the FlexRoad project website!

Construction on this project should start sometime this spring, and it's going to be an absolute mess with three years of construction and a lot of phases to maintain traffic!

[ITB]

Google maps has updated its satellite view for sections of Boone and Hamilton counties. Visible is construction of the new US 52 interchange at Interstate 65, as well as the massive Eli Lilly build-out at the LEAP (Limitless Exploration/Advanced Pace) district.


Image: Airbus, Maxar Technologies; Map date: Google
The image is from September 3, 2025. Since then a lot of construction progress has been made. Substantial completion of the 52/65 interchange is projected for late fall 2026.


Image: Airbus, Maxar Technologies; Map date: Google
A few miles to the south, construction of Eli Lilly's new state-of-the-art Medicine Foundry facility on SR 32 is now clearly evident. Plans are to have around 400–500 scientists and other professionals employed at the Foundry. Image date: September 3, 2025.


Image: Google Maps; Google Streetview
View looking north from Witt Road toward a section of the future Eli Lilly manufacturing campus at the LEAP district. Lilly is investing billions of dollars here. Image date: August 2025.