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Indiana Department of Transportation

INDOT > About INDOT > Central Office > Welcome to the Greenfield District > South Split South Split

Project Overview

INDOT is launching an accelerated project that will close I-65 and I-70 between the north and south splits on the east side of downtown Indianapolis for approximately 59 days in Fall 2013 to reconstruct and lower one-half mile of pavement beneath seven bridges. The project is necessary to increase bridge clearances and reduce the potential for collisions from unpermitted and off-route trucks with oversize and unsecure loads. Repeated bridge strikes from these trucks continue to pose a safety concern.

The expected schedule calls for closing the interstate between the north and south splits after Labor Day on Tuesday, September 3.

By closing the interstate through the work zone, INDOT can accelerate construction and expedite completion of the project while providing a safer environment for workers and motorists. In order to safely implement the closure, contractors will require interstate lane restrictions beginning September 2. Motorists travelling Interstates 65 and 70 through Indianapolis on Labor Day should be aware of reduced travel lanes and restricted work zones as contractors place signs, modify pavement markings and set barricades and barrier walls.

INDOT is partnering with the City of Indianapolis to maintain traffic flow and access to downtown businesses, neighborhoods, and cultural districts using techniques that were applied successfully during the 2003 Hyperfix project. Message boards and signage will direct I-65 and I-70 through traffic to use the south and west legs of I-465.

Preliminary work is scheduled to begin August 21 on temporary traffic improvements that will be complete before the interstate closure. This work will require overnight restrictions, and advanced notice of exact times and locations will be announced:

• Widening the Pine Street entrance ramp to eastbound I-70 to accommodate two lanes
• Restriping New York Street and restricting some parking to allow for an additional traffic lane
• Building a temporary eastbound I-70 to southbound I-65 ramp configuration with a 30 mph speed limit

Four Indiana contractors competed over construction cost and closure days using an innovative INDOT bidding techniques. Private sector competition and innovations reduced the expected interstate closure from 90 to 59 days and construction costs to $12.4 million. Incentives and liquidated damages of $60,000 per day will encourage crews to meet or beat their closure estimate.

Existing Conditions

More than 400 collisions have been recorded at South Split bridges over I-65/I-70 since 1999 and the frequency of vehicle bridge strikes has increased in recent years.

The most severe incident occurred on Feb. 22, 2013, when an oversize vehicle struck the Virginia Avenue Bridge, requiring a weekend-long closure of northbound I-65 and eastbound I-70 for emergency repairs to the bridge.

The bridges at Virginia, Fletcher, Calvary and Morris have vertical clearances ranging from 13’11” to 14’6”. This project will increase the vertical clearance of each structure to at least 14’9” by reconstructing and lowering the pavement. The new pavement will be built of continuously reinforced concrete, which is held tightly together with reinforcing steel and does not require contraction joints. This pavement will withstand traffic loads and adverse environmental conditions, decrease maintenance and user delays, and remain in service well into the next generation.

Detours

The temporary closure of I-65/I-70 should have a negligible impact to interstate commerce. Using a comparison of lane miles computations, I-70 traffic will be detoured to I-465 around the south side of Indianapolis, adding only 2.2 miles to interstate travel. Re-routed I-65 through traffic via I-465 is approximately 20 miles around the west side of I-465, adding only 3 miles to the trip.

Diverted traffic will use I-465 around the south side of Indianapolis. The detour route will have no lane restrictions during this time, and INDOT will not plan for any lane closures in other nearby construction zones. Businesses requiring deliveries adjacent to the area closed are encouraged to determine alternate routes in advance.

INDOT will increase the Hoosier Helper workforce (free interstate service patrols) along I-465 to address incident response and minimize any incident impacts. INDOT is working with the Indiana Motor Trucking Association to provide information targeting the trucking industry.

View the South Split Project Area Map to review mainline interstate and ramp closures.

Visit the Detour Routes Map to Review I-65 and I-70 detour routes.

Consultation with Government

INDOT will coordinate the closure and maintenance of traffic with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, Indiana State Police, and other emergency responders. INDOT has reached out to Federal, State and local agencies to ensure a collaborative and coordinated effort to address the logistical challenges of reconstructing this section of I-65/I-70. Additionally, INDOT is reaching out to residents, businesses and community groups through an aggressive communications plan.

Meetings and Hearings

More Information

Motorists, residents and businesses are encouraged to sign up for the project’s email list by clicking on the red GovDelivery envelope icon in the left navigation pane. Updates will also be provided on the Indiana Department of Transportation East Central Facebook page and on Twitter @INDOT_ECentral.