I-65 Bridge Construction Starts March 5 at I-465
Eastbound I-465 Loop Ramp to Northbound I-65 Closes
Construction contractors plan to begin work Sunday night (March 5) on a $19.6 million project to rebuild six bridges on Interstate 65 over I-465 and Lick Creek on the south side of Indianapolis.
The eastbound I-465 loop ramp to northbound I-65 will be closed starting Sunday night at 9 p.m. for the duration of construction. During the ramp closure, a signed detour will direct traffic south on I-65 to Southport Road (Exit 103) to return northbound on I-65.
Preliminary work to maintain traffic during bridge construction
Preparing traffic control for the first phase of bridge construction will require multiple overnight lane restrictions between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. (Construction schedules are subject to change.)
Starting Sunday, March 5 at 9 p.m. and recurring for three nights until Wednesday, March 8 at 6 a.m., Superior Construction will close up to two lanes of northbound I-65 to paint temporary lane markings and shift three northbound lanes toward the median. While northbound traffic is shifted to the left, crews will be paving to widen the right interstate shoulder.
Starting Wednesday, March 8 at 9 p.m. and recurring for three nights until Saturday, March 11 at 6 a.m., contractors will close up to two lanes of northbound and southbound I-65 to paint temporary lane markings and shift three northbound lanes and two southbound lanes toward the right shoulders. While traffic is shifted to the right, crews will be removing sections of concrete wall, which will allow for shifting traffic across the median.
Starting on or after Saturday, March 11 two lanes of southbound I-65 will be shifted across the median to share the widened northbound side of the interstate. Opposing directions of traffic will be separated by temporary concrete barriers. Traffic is expected to remain in this Phase 1 configuration through mid-summer.
Traffic during construction
Traffic lane shifts, median crossovers and ramp closures are necessary to complete the project in phases while maximizing safety and mobility. Northbound I-65 will have three lanes and southbound I-65 will have two lanes throughout construction.
I-465 underneath the bridges will have closed shoulders and overnight lane closures. Specific dates and traffic restrictions will be announced in advance and communicated to motorists using electronic message signs. All interstate lane closures will be scheduled between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m.
The I-65 and I-465 speed limits will be reduced to 55 mph through the work zone and further reduced to 45 mph when workers are present and lights are flashing.
Ramp closures ahead
The southbound I-65 ramp to eastbound I-465 is scheduled to close in late March or early April for up to 150 days. During the ramp closure, signed detours will direct traffic to Southport Road (Exit 103) to return northbound and access eastbound I-465.
Later this summer, both directions of I-65 traffic will be shifted to share the southbound side of the interstate while construction is completed on the northbound side. Phase 2 will also close the northbound I-65 ramp to westbound I-465 for up to 150 days.
Bridge construction is expected to be substantially complete, with all lanes and ramps open to traffic, before the end of this year.
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