FISHERS, Ind. – Contractors for the Operation Indy Commute – I-69 interchange improvement project expect to close the southbound I-69 Exit 205 to 116th Street tomorrow night at 8 p.m. for up to 90 days. State Road 37 will maintain access to both southbound I-69 and 116th Street.
The official signed detour for the ramp closure directs traffic south on I-69 to the 96th Street interchange (Exit 203) to return northbound on I-69 to 116th Street (Exit 205). The closure allows for quicker construction of the new southbound ramp configuration, which includes a new bridge to carry State Road 37 over traffic exiting I-69 to 116th Street. This new configuration is intended to eliminate the weaving traffic pattern, reduce congestion, and enhance safety and mobility within the ramp system. Improvements to the southbound side of the interchange are expected to be complete by the end of this year.
Milestone Contractors, the state’s contractor for the $18 million interchange improvement project, says—weather permitting—northbound I-69 and the ramp system connecting 116th Street and SR 37 is expected to be in its final traffic configuration by the end of this week. Northbound improvements include:
• A new flyover ramp to carry two lanes of traffic exiting to SR 37.
• Widening and restriping to allow three lanes to Exit 205 and three lanes to continue northbound on I-69.
• Splitting the center of three exit lanes to allow two lanes to exit to 116th Street and two lanes to continue to SR 37.
• A new entrance ramp for 116th Street to northbound I-69 will stay to the right of the two lanes exiting to SR 37, which eliminates weaving traffic patterns.
Some overnight lane restrictions will continue as contractors complete final items on the northbound side of the interchange, and INDOT reminds motorists to always drive safely—especially through highway work zones.
Operation Indy Commute is an initiative by INDOT to strategically eliminate recurring commuting bottlenecks on I-69 in Marion and Hamilton counties between I-465 and Exit 205. A separate contract is adding a southbound travel lane between 116th Street and I-465 and constructing northbound and southbound auxiliary lanes to connect interchange ramps between 116th, 96th and 82nd streets.
For more information about Operation Indy Commute – I-69, and to sign up to receive updates throughout the project, visit www.IndyCommute.indot.in.gov. For construction updates, photos and more via social media, “like” the Indiana Department of Transportation: East Central Facebook page and follow @INDOT_ECentral on Twitter.