My story tonight — about plans for modifying I-465 and I-69 — is of interest to people who deal with congestion, every day,  in northeastern Marion County and in Hamilton County.   Will Wingfield of INDOT says the department plans to take 465 from what is  ”in general, a six lane highway” to ten lanes.  The goal for I-69 is to expand to fourteen lanes at its widest point.

Does that raise the concern that the Field of Dreams message will apply here?  If you build it, will they come?  That’s an issue that comes up in any major road project — that more lanes only attract more traffic.  So, if that’s true, expansion does not solve congestion.

Wingfield says construction is not the only way to address the problem.  He says INDOT argues for a “multi-prong approach – not just state highway work but also consideration for mass transit. For alternate modes of transportation such as biking and walking and we’re trying to accomodate that as best we can.” 

INDOT is also looking toward the day that light rail is available in central Indiana.  Several bridge improvements are part of the $567 million dollar plan.  Wingfield says the bridges in the rail corridor are being designed with the idea that, someday, they may need two sets of track — for north- and southbound trains.  “We’re designing our bridges to try to accomodate those plans,” he says.

But, city leaders can make life easier for state highway planners.  Wingfield says upgrades to local streets can help — “so there’s more than one option beyond the interstate to get to work.”