INDOT Urges Drivers to Exercise Caution During July 4th Weekend

Most road construction pausing to facilitate movement of heavy holiday traffic 

INDIANAPOLIS – The July 4th weekend is a busy travel time for motorists. The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) reminds holiday travelers to be aware and plan ahead for heavy traffic on the state’s highways and interstates. 

Beginning Thursday at noon, all maintenance activities and most construction projects are on hiatus until sunrise Monday, July 6, to increase roadway safety in work zones. Contractors are required to pull back barrels and barricades when possible to facilitate smooth traffic flow during heavy holiday traffic. Some work that doesn’t restrict lanes or impede traffic may continue. 

Please note, rest areas may be closed over the holiday weekend if no budget is approved by the Indiana General Assembly by midnight Wednesday, July 1. If the budget is passed by midnight, rest areas are expected to be open and operational.  

To assist with travel planning, the following restrictions will remain in place for the July 4th weekend: 

Indianapolis Area

·        Accelerate 465: between Sam Jones Expressway and I-74 on the west side will be shifted towards the median as pavement work begins on outside lanes. Three lanes will remain open in each direction.

·         I-465 loop ramps at U.S. 40/West Washington Street will be closed to allow contractors to shift I-465 toward the center median. The traffic pattern will operate like a diamond interchange, with traffic signals on either end of the I-465 bridge.

·         West 10th Street: will be restricted to two narrow lanes in each direction while contractors rebuild the bridge in two phases. The old loop ramps will be temporarily closed and the traffic pattern will operate like a diamond interchange, with traffic signals on either end of the I-465 bridge.

·         S.R. 44 near the Johnson/Shelby County line, will be closed for bridge replacement. The detour follows I-65, I-465 and I-74.

·         U.S. 52/Main Street through downtown New Palestine will be closed for reconstruction. The detour follows S.R. 9, I-70 and I-465.

·         Pendleton Pike (U.S. 36/S.R. 67):from I-465 to just east of Post Road, will be restricted to two narrow lanes in each direction with no dedicated turn lanes while crews widen the road and install new water and sewer lines.

·         U.S. 40/East Washington Street from Post Road to the eastern edge of Cumberland is restricted to one lane in each direction due to road reconstruction.

·         S.R. 238, between Olio Road and Fortville, will be closed for road construction. A posted detour following I-69 and S.R. 13 adds about 3 miles for through traffic.

 INDIANAPOLIS RESTRICTION UPDATE 

INDIANAPOLIS – The following restrictions are current or upcoming for the Indianapolis metropolitan area. Many restrictions listed below are dependent upon favorable weather conditions.

NEW RESTRICTIONS    ·         Allisonville Road northbound at the bridge over I-465 will be closed while the bridge is restriped. Diverted traffic can enter I-465 eastbound and loop through the ramps at I-69 to access Allisonville Road.
Date:  Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Time: 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. 

ACCELERATE 465 RESTRICTIONS 

·   Beechway Drive between Rockville Road and West 10th Street will be closed to through traffic for retaining wall and noise barrier wall placement.  Local access will be maintained with most businesses being accessible from 10th Street.
Date:  Monday, June 22 – Monday, August 10, 2009
Time: Continuous 

·    Hanna Avenue from Kentucky Avenue to High School Road will be closed to replace the bridge over I-465. A posted detour follows Kollman Road, Decatur Boulevard, Heathrow Way and Kentucky Avenue.
Date: Monday, June 1 – September 2009
Time: Continuous 

·      I-465 near Hanna Avenue on the west side may be restricted to one lane in either direction overnight for bridge demolition and reconstruction. Total intermittent closures may happen for 20 minutes at a time between midnight and 5 a.m. near the Hanna Avenue bridge to remove beams over I-465. Stay alert for changing traffic patterns.
Date: Monday, June 1 – September 2009
Time: 9 p.m. – 6 a.m. each night, continuous on weekends 

·         I-465 loop ramps at U.S. 40/West Washington Street will be closed to allow contractors to shift I-465 toward the center median. The traffic pattern will operate like a diamond interchange, with traffic signals on either end of the I-465 bridge.
Date: Saturday, April 25 – Fall 2010
Time: Continuous  

·         I-465 between Sam Jones Expressway and I-74 on the west side will be shifted towards the median as pavement work begins on outside lanes. Three lanes will remain open during rush hours. Overnight and on weekends, up to two lanes may closed in each direction for road construction. Total intermittent closures may happen for 20 minutes at a time near bridges to remove beams over I-465. Stay alert for changing traffic patterns.
Date: Monday, April 20 – Fall 2010
Time: 9 p.m. – 6 a.m. each night, continuous on weekends 

·         I-465 and U.S. 36/Rockville Road interchange may experience daytime lane restrictions while finishing work is completed.
Date: Monday, June 16, 2008 – Summer 2009
Time: Continuous 

·         West 10th Street will be restricted to two narrow lanes in each direction while contractors rebuild the bridge in two phases. The old loop ramps will be temporarily closed and the traffic pattern will operate like a diamond interchange, with traffic signals on either end of the I-465 bridge.
Date: Friday, March 13 – Fall 2009
Time: Continuous