New bridge to open, traffic to shift for I-69 construction in Morgan County

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MORGAN COUNTY, Ind. (July 16, 2021) – Drivers should prepare for multiple traffic shifts in the I-69 Finish Line work zone on or after Saturday, July 17. Exact timing will depend on weather.

With changes in traffic patterns, it’s especially important for motorists to slow down, pay close attention to their surroundings and always drive distraction-free. Speed limits are reduced to 45 mph in the work zone.

New S.R. 44 bridge
Concrete has been poured for several bridges within the State Road 37 closure zone in Martinsville. The next to open for traffic will be the new S.R. 44 bridge over I-69. If the weather cooperates, it is expected to open to traffic on Saturday afternoon.

Once the bridge opens, the temporary S.R. 37 connection between S.R. 44 and S.R. 252 will be closed and the traffic signal removed. This will allow crews to complete construction of the new I-69 interchange that will connect the two state highways.

From Martinsville, motorists traveling to S.R. 252 will need to use Morgan Street to Hospital Drive. Access to S.R. 44 will be Morgan Street to Reuben Drive. Drivers on Morgan Street should expect increased traffic and exercise extra caution at the Morgan Street/Reuben Drive intersection.

State Road 37 paving in Morgan County

S.R. 37 Southbound
Southbound S.R. 37 traffic is scheduled to shift Saturday onto new pavement and bridges from S.R. 144 to Henderson Ford Road. Northbound traffic is expected to shift about one week later – after crews move the temporary concrete barriers.

Local traffic on S.R. 37 will remain two lanes – one in each direction – and cross the median between Henderson Ford Road and Egbert Road. The official detour for the S.R. 37 closure in Martinsville remains S.R. 144, S.R. 67 and S.R. 39.

The S.R. 37 shift will allow construction to begin on new and rehabilitated I-69 northbound pavement and bridges in this area. Work continues on the new I-69 southbound lanes between Egbert Road and Morgan Street where a section of roadbed is being dug out for future overpasses at Teeters Road and Myra Lane.

Bobby Helms Boulevard and Ruth Rusie Way

Ohio Street
Ohio Street traffic will shift onto new pavement about 50 feet northeast of the existing alignment. The shift is expected to happen this weekend or early next week. As part of the new traffic pattern, the Bill’s Boulevard and Turkey Hill gas station entrances will close at Ohio Street. Bobby Helms Boulevard and Ruth Rusie Way have been improved to provide access to businesses in the area.

These traffic shifts will allow interchange construction to continue, including work on the new I-69 bridges over Ohio Street.

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About I-69 Finish Line
I-69 Finish Line is the sixth and final section of the Interstate 69 connection between Evansville and Indianapolis. The project will upgrade the existing S.R. 37 to interstate standards between Martinsville and Indianapolis.

Governor Eric Holcomb’s Next Level Connections program fully funded the project and accelerated construction by three years. I-69 Finish Line is expected to open to traffic in late 2024, improving safety and reducing travel time.

Follow I-69 Finish Line on FacebookTwitter and Instagram.

About the Indiana Hands-Free Law
In 2019, Indiana Criminal Justice Institute reported that distracted driving from mobile devices was a factor in at least 1,263 crashes and three fatal crashes. To make Hoosier roads safer, Governor Eric J. Holcomb signed the Indiana Hands-Free law to reduce distracted driving across the state. Beginning July 1, 2020, drivers are prohibited from holding a mobile device, except in emergencies, while their vehicles are moving. For more information on the new law visit www.HandsFreeIndiana.com. Hands-Free Indiana is a partnership between the Indiana Department of Transportation, Indiana State Police, Indiana Criminal Justice Institute, Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles, Indiana Constructors Inc., Indiana Motor Truck Association and ACEC Indiana.

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