The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) is committed to building and maintaining a safe transportation network for all users and workers. The Interstate Highways Congestion Policy (IHCP) aims to enhance safety and mobility in interstate work zones by preventing or minimizing congestion-related queues. It thereby reduces conditions that contribute directly to back-of-queue crashes, one of the most severe collision types in work zones.
To achieve this, all planned interstate restrictions must be evaluated for their safety, mobility, and operational impacts. Queues can often be prevented by selecting appropriate strategies or by timing work to avoid peak traffic hours. When congestion cannot be avoided, the risks associated with work-zone-related queues must be mitigated.
When queues form due to work-zone-related roadway restrictions, on-site personnel must act to either protect the back-of-queue using active queue-mitigation measures or remove the restriction from the roadway to stop queue growth and help dissipate any queue that has formed, if safe to do so. Whenever such queues form, prompt action ensures compliance, while inaction does not.
Current Policy (Effective September 25, 2026)
- 2026 Interstate Highways Congestion Policy
- 2026 Interstate Highways Congestion Policy Appendices
- Changes from the 2017 Policy
Required Notifications for All Restrictions
- IHCP Restrictions Notification Form (Coming soon)
- For restrictions involving INDOT Construction Contract work only, always attach RSP 801-T-216
- Submit a CARS Entry at least two weeks prior to the planned field implementation to provide advance notice.
- TMC Notification (317-899-8690, ext. 1) on the day of implementation of a restriction in the field:
- Call no sooner than one hour BEFORE the scheduled start time to confirm the restriction is about to be implemented on the interstate.
- Call at the scheduled END time to confirm the restriction has been removed from the interstate.