I-65 Winter Configuration To Open New Southbound Lanes

Last updated on Thursday, November 29, 2018

(BARTHOLOMEW & JACKSON COUNTIES) - The Indiana Department of Transportation plans to open newly paved concrete lanes on Interstate 65 within the state’s ongoing $143 million Columbus-to-Seymour 65 Next Level project.

INDOT officials anticipate eliminating the use of the southbound median crossover located north of State Road 58/Walesboro Exit Friday, December 7. Weather permitting, southbound traffic will remain on the west side (southbound side) of I-65.

This new winter traffic configuration on I-65 will remain in effect throughout the winter:

The asphalt section between S.R. 46 ramps at Columbus and mile marker 64.5 near the Walesboro exit will remain in normal configuration--two 12-foot lanes southbound and northbound with 4-foot inside shoulders and 8-foot outside shoulders.
MM 64.5 to 61.2 at Smalls Creek bridge--two 11-foot lanes southbound and northbound with 2-foot shoulders.
MM 61.2 to 56.0 just north of S.R. 11--two 11-foot lanes southbound and northbound with 4-foot inside shoulders and 8-foot outside shoulders.
MM 56.0 to 53.3 at White River bridge--two 11-foot lanes southbound and northbound with 2-foot shoulders.
MM 53.5 to 50.0 at U.S. 50/Seymour--two 11-foot lanes southbound and northbound with 4-foot inside shoulders and 8-foot outside shoulders.
Prior to traffic normalization, concrete barrier wall sections must be relocated.

Orange barrels will restrict traffic from third-lane travel while various work continues throughout most of the I-65 construction zone this winter. This includes subgrade work for an added lane on the northbound side and bridge work at White River and the L & I Railroad underpass.

During the 2018 construction season, prime contractor E & B Paving and its subcontractors have completed the following operations:

Construction of eastbound and westbound turn lanes at the S.R. 58 interchange - plus new traffic signals there and at S.R. 58/International Drive.
Installation of ITS cameras along entire I-65 corridor.
I-65 repairs and resurfacing of 3.5 miles of asphalt pavement between S.R. 58 and S.R. 46 - plus rehabilitation of I-65's bridge over Denois Creek.
Widening and reconstruction of I-65 from S.R. 58 to Smalls Creek to accommodate three southbound travel lanes - plus widening of the corresponding northbound lane with the rehabilitation of the I-65 bridge over Smalls Creek and the C.R. 625S bridge over I-65.
Northbound I-65 widening from Smalls Creek to just north of S.R. 11 - plus rehabilitation of Countyline Road's bridge over I-65.
Substructure work at I-65 bridges over White River overflows including 24 widened piers and 58 new precast beams
Substructure work at I-65 bridge over the east fork of White River including 19 new footers and piers.

2018 asphalt and concrete paving along with grade and drain work - have resulted in the following:

Median widening operations also got underway on I-65 between MM 54.0 and MM 50 at Seymour.

13 detention basins installed

555.75 linear feet of pipe laid

65 inlets placed

2 temporary median crossovers paved

216 linear feet of reinforced concrete boxes w/3 wingwalls installed

31,197 cubic yards of fill material placed

22,835.28 tons of asphalt removed

14,747.13 cubic yards of concrete removed

33,224.34 tons of subbase stone put in place

8,337.73 tons of asphalt surface laid

194,429.14 square yards of concrete laid

4 new traffic signals put in operation

S.R. 58 shoulder reinforced

6 ITS poles and 12 cameras installed

The 3-year I-65 project calls for full-depth construction of a 6-lane concrete roadway between U.S. 50 and S.R. 58--with pavement repairs and asphalt resurfacing of the existing 4-lane section between S.R. 58 and S.R. 46. Operations include significant bridge work at 27 difference structure sites along the 17-mile route.

1340 AM WBIW welcomes comments and suggestions by calling 812.277.1340 during normal business hours or by email at comments@wbiw.com

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