BARTHOLOMEW CO. – Indiana Department of Transportation contractor Force Construction plans to close lanes of I-65 to complete milling, paving, and striping ahead of a traffic shift in Bartholomew County. Closures are scheduled between State Road 58 and State Road 46 as follows, weather permitting:
- Tuesday, March 16 (9 p.m. to 6 a.m.): Right lane of I-65 SB closed for milling of shoulder corrugations
- Wednesday and Thursday, March 17 and 18 (9 a.m. to 3 p.m.): Right lane of I-65 SB closed for shoulder paving
- Week of March 22 (day and night): Various lane closures on I-65 NB/SB for striping and barrier wall installation
- Week of March 29 (9 p.m. to 6 a.m.): Various lane closures on I-65 NB/SB for barrier wall installation
Traffic is expected to shift to its new configuration the week of March 29 following the installation of a barrier wall throughout the project limits. Northbound traffic will remain as is and southbound will be moved to the existing right lane and shoulder with an 11-foot width restriction. Trucks will need to use the left lane for travel and a 55 mph speed limit will be in effect for the entire stretch of I-65.
S.R. 46 WB to I-65 NB ramp
Also on Tuesday (March 16), the inside left turn lane on S.R. 46 WB will close at the I-65 interchange in Columbus. The closure will continue to the inside left lane on the ramp to I-65 NB for guardrail repair and is expected to be removed the following week. All other lanes should remain open during this time.
Milling, paving and striping on I-65 SB is the start of mainline work on a $65 million contract that includes the addition of a third travel lane between S.R. 58 and S.R. 46, bridge widening and rehabilitation, structure replacement, and asphalt resurfacing from the Driftwood River Bridge to U.S. 31 at Taylorsville. The traffic shift is the first major configuration change planned for the project and will remain in place through mid-summer. The contract was awarded in October 2020 and is expected to be complete in 2023.
Note: All paving and striping are highly dependent upon weather. Temperatures must be at least 45 degrees with no precipitation. Work will be rescheduled if necessary.
