A project to refurbish two 40-year-old bridges at the Interstates 65 & 70 south split will close the northbound I-65 ramp to westbound I-70 for approximately two months beginning two weeks from today on Wednesday, May 27 at 12:01 a.m.
The ramp is planned to open to traffic before the end of July. During the closure, contractors will modernize two structures with improved quality and safety standards by:
- Rebuilding the concrete bridge decks to provide a smoother driving surface.
- Replacing the existing pin joints, which are susceptible to corrosion and considered fracture critical, with more redundant splices to connect bridge beams across long spans, and
- Rebuilding the bridge abutments that support the bridge decks on each end.
Interstate Detour & Traffic Impacts
Northbound I-65 to westbound I-70 traffic will be detoured west on I-465 for the duration of the project. Closing the interstate ramp will accelerate construction and expedite completion of the project while providing a safer environment for workers and motorists. INDOT traffic engineers’ analysis predicted that maintaining a single lane of ramp traffic through the work zone would result in a far longer construction timeframe and miles-long traffic backups, which would block traffic on I-65 and at nearby interchanges.
I-65 and I-70 traffic should also expect overnight and weekend single-lane restrictions as crews work on the bridges.
Local Impacts to Traffic
Nearby ramps and city streets will likely see additional traffic – especially during the peak morning commute hours – as many downtown commuters who would normally exit to Meridian or West streets may exit to Raymond, Morris or Washington streets.
Morris and Prospect streets will be closed to vehicular traffic passing under I-65, but the streets and ramps to and from the interstate will remain open on each side of the bridge. Pedestrian access under the bridge is expected to remain available most of the time, with some short-term restrictions during demolition.
Planning Ahead & Staying Informed
Motorists, residents and businesses are encouraged to learn more about the closure, how it might affect them, and begin planning now by visiting southsplit.in.gov and subscribing to receive regular email updates. Social media will also be used to keep the public informed throughout the project. Follow @INDOT_ECentral on Twitter and like Indiana Department of Transportation: East Central on Facebook for updates using #SouthSplit.