It’s a day of firsts for the I-69 Finish Line project outside of Martinsville. The first exit ramp, first interchange bridge and first roundabout intersections completed are all expected to open around midday today at Henderson Ford Road.
Shifting Henderson Ford Road to its permanent location will allow crews to complete the earthmoving and paving needed for the remaining I-69 entrance and exit ramps. It will also change traffic patterns for both State Road 37 and local traffic.
The existing S.R. 37 intersection at Henderson Ford Road will close and the Ennis Road intersection will reopen with a temporary signal. Northbound S.R. 37 can turn right and exit at Ennis Road. Southbound S.R. 37 cannot turn at the Ennis Road signal but can use the exit ramp to Henderson Ford Road.
Local traffic can turn right onto northbound S.R. 37 or turn left onto southbound S.R. 37 from New Harmony and Ennis roads to the southwest. To avoid traffic backing onto S.R. 37, New Harmony Road will be closed to the east and Ennis Road to the south of where the two roads intersect. Click here to learn more about local access routes.
Roundabouts are planned at six of the eight I-69 Finish Line interchanges to facilitate traffic flow on S.R. 39, S.R. 252, Henderson Ford Road, S.R. 144, Smith Valley Road and County Line Road. Roundabouts improve safety and traffic flow and include concrete aprons and curbs to accommodate large trucks.
Continued progress along I-465 on the south side of Indianapolis will require some nighttime lane closures and short traffic stoppages for the next two weeks. I-465 lanes may be closed between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. Starting at 11 p.m., one lane of I-465 will remain open with 20-minute closures and traffic will be given time to clear between stoppages.
Utility crews are replacing overhead power lines just east of Mann Road and bridge crews are demolishing the Keystone Avenue overpass. Bridge crews also closed the Redfern Drive intersection at Keystone Avenue just south of I-465. Pay attention and watch your speed as you access Redfern Drive from neighborhood roads.
One project you will not see start in the coming weeks is the closure and replacement of the Mooresville Road Bypass bridge over I-465. Contractors decided to keep the existing bridge open until the spring. The Mooresville Road Bypass, Carson Avenue, Madison Avenue and Mann Road crossings are scheduled to be rebuilt in phases in 2022 to maintain access across the south leg of I-465.
- Teeters Road access to S.R. 37 is permanently closed for overpass construction. Local access east of S.R. 37 remains open with temporary connections to Myra Lane and Twin Branch Road.
- As road crews make progress in paving the new I-69 lanes in Martinsville, asphalt paving crews are coming online to pave entrance and exit ramps at the interchanges. Watch for construction at the S.R. 37 work zone near the S.R. 44/Reuben Drive overpass and at S.R. 252/Hospital Drive.
- What does it take to build an interstate? A lot! Check out this video to get a better understanding of the progress happening before your eyes.
- Bridge beam installation was successfully completed last week over Ohio Street and S.R. 252. Watch for S.R. 252 traffic to shift onto new pavement in the coming weeks near S.R. 37.
- The next IU home football game kicks off against the Cincinnati Bearcats at 12 noon on Saturday. Law enforcement will assist in directing traffic along Morgan Street, S.R. 39 and Morton Avenue.
- Watch for additional traffic on County Road 144 east of S.R. 37 starting late this week. Banta Road will temporarily close south of S.R. 37 and divert traffic so that road crews may pave the new I-69 lanes through the intersection.
- Johnson County expects to reopen Morgantown Road between Fairview Road and Smith Valley Road this week to close the Fairview Road and Peterman Road/C.R. 400W intersection for roundabout construction.
- The Builders Association of Greater Indianapolis is hosting its 2021 Home-a-Rama at the Aberdeen development near C.R. 144 and Morgantown Road. Home-a-Rama occurs Thursday through Sunday for the next three weekends.
- S.R. 37 southbound traffic has shifted across the center median with temporary barriers dividing northbound and southbound traffic between Wicker Road and Fairview Road. Crews have begun removing the old pavement and bridges to build new I-69 lanes in this area.
- Thompson Road is now closed between Warman Avenue and Stoops Freightliner. Access the Sunshine Gardens neighborhood from the south using Epler Avenue. You’ll see increasing activity in this area along I-465 in the coming weeks as a large sewer line is installed and trucks haul fill dirt for the future high-speed ramps connecting I-69 and I-465.
The actual starting date and duration for work and any closures may be adjusted if inclement weather or other unforeseen activities occur.
