Last Tuesday evening a vehicle fire on westbound I-465 just east of the White River created a significant backup as first responders secured the scene, extinguished the blaze, and cleared the area. A roadway inspection team immediately examined the affected pavement to determine if damage was extensive enough to require a closure. It was.
Fortunately, a paving crew was working not far from the location of the incident. The crew quickly moved to I-465, made the necessary repairs and got the lane back open to traffic sooner rather than later.
Unfortunately, the crew that made the emergency repair was the same one working to reopen Banta Road, originally scheduled to occur on Wednesday night. While the diversion to I-465 and a couple of wet days delayed the scheduled opening, the work on Banta Road under future I-69 and on Belmont Avenue between Banta and Southport roads wrapped up early Sunday morning.
Please watch your speed on the new pavement and be aware as traffic patterns in the area return to normal.
- The Banta Road and Belmont Avenue intersection has reopened. Belmont is permanently closed at the old Edgewood intersection. Traffic south of that intersection will have Belmont Avenue access south to Southport Road. Traffic north of the old intersection will need to travel north on relocated Belmont Avenue to Epler Avenue.
- Next weekend there will be a closure at the southbound I-465 ramp intersection at Mann Road for repaving. Message boards will be up in advance of closure.
- The eastbound ramp from Mann Road to I-465 is expected to open at the end of October
- A single northbound lane closure on S.R. 37 will be in place under the S.R. 144 bridge until the end of November to allow crews to finish mainline paving in the area. If you are traveling northbound, be aware of traffic merging from S.R. 144.
- The ramp from northbound S.R. 37 to Smith Valley Road is anticipated to be open by late October.
- There will be a traffic switch on the east leg of Smith Valley Road, east of Mullinex, for crews to complete the new median.
The actual starting date and duration for work and any closures may be adjusted if inclement weather or other unforeseen activities occur.
