Brought to you by WBIW News and Network Indiana
Last updated on Thursday, August 22, 2013
(INDIANAPOLIS) - The city of Indianapolis, Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) and the Indiana State Police are working closely to prepare for the upcoming 59-day closure of I-65/I-70 between the north and south split scheduled to begin at 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 3
INDOT and city planners are making preparations to accommodate displaced traffic and expect some delays on city streets in the downtown area.
The Indiana State police will be assisting INDOT and contractors with traffic control during the implementation of temporary traffic improvements beginning tonight. ISP will also have troopers in and near the work zone to monitor traffic and to ensure the safety of motorists and construction workers. Troopers will be utilizing marked and unmarked patrols including special unmarked pickup trucks that resemble vehicles typically seen in highway construction zones.
The City will temporarily restrict on-street parking on Illinois, Delaware, Pennsylvania, College and New York streets in the downtown area to free up additional vehicular travel lanes. These restrictions will vary between parking-time restrictions to prohibiting parking completely. The City will also monitor street repairs and try to limit permits to emergency issues only to minimize downtown thoroughfare delays.
Sections of New York Street will have temporary parking restrictions to restripe the roadway to allow for an additional lane of traffic. Alternating lane restrictions should be expected on New York Street between Delaware and Pine streets beginning Monday, Aug. 26. The daytime restrictions are expected to end each day by approximately 3 p.m. and the restriping will be complete before the Sept. 3 interstate closure.
The Pine Street entrance ramp to eastbound I-70 and one interstate lane adjacent to the ramp will have overnight restrictions beginning Wednesday, Aug. 21 as contractors work to temporarily widen the ramp to accommodate two lanes. This work will be complete before the Sept. 3 interstate closure.
At the south split, the right lane of southbound I-65 and the left ramp lane from eastbound I-70 to southbound I-65 will have overnight restrictions beginning Wed. Aug. 21 from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. The lane restrictions will repeat each night as contractors work to construct a temporary ramp configuration ahead of the Sept. 3 interstate closure.
On Monday, Sept. 2 (Labor Day) after 8 a.m., contractors will restrict various traffic lanes on city streets for short periods of time in order to modify signs, directing motorists to interstate ramps remaining open during the interstate closure. Interstate lane restrictions should also be expected near the north and south splits on Monday, Sept. 2 as contractors prepare to close the interstate after midnight.
Traffic signals will be monitored and adjusted to accommodate the additional traffic based on similar projects, like Hyperfix. Please be patient as INDOT will have to make minor adjustments in the first weeks of the closure as traffic patterns change. Residents are encouraged to plan multiple alternate route options and to test those routes out beforehand.
INDOT will continue working together with all stake holders to optimize traffic flow and maintain access to downtown businesses, neighborhoods and cultural districts during this interstate closure.
Motorists, residents and businesses are encouraged to visit www.SouthSplit.in.gov. Updates will also be provided on the Indiana Department of Transportation East Central Facebook page and on Twitter @INDOT_ECentral and #SouthSplit. Follow these accounts safely to get up to the minute information on this road improvement project.
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