Ongoing and upcoming INDOT projects in central Indiana

INDIANAPOLIS — It’s been quite the year for road construction in Central Indiana.

This includes hitting a major milestone with the opening of the new I-69 and I-465 interchange on the city’s southwest side.

“I have been waiting for this day for 16 years,” Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb said on Tuesday.

“The crossroads of America has now filled in its missing link,” said Mitch Daniels, the former governor of Indiana. “It’s a great day for not only people who use this road and the whole state.”

On Tuesday, the state celebrated the success of the I-69 Finish Line Project. Now, with the opening of the interchange, I-69 runs continuously from the Canadian border at Port Huron, Michigan to Evansville.

“It’s a brand new interstate in Indiana,” said Kyleigh Cramer, the public relations director for the Indiana Department of Transportation’s East Central District. “We are one of the only states in the U.S. to complete a whole new interstate which is very exciting.”

Lanes are continuing to open up this weekend and bridge and pavement work will continue on I-465 in the coming weeks.

Simultaneously, work is being done on I-69 in the northeast area of Marion County through the Clear Path Project.

“We have seen a lot of collisions in this area and just a lot of folks having some backup(s) and congestion,” Cramer said. “[We are] making sure we can help out with that with added travel lanes making it easier and [having a] safer corridor.”

Drivers will see new pavement, bridge rehabilitation work, as well as new travel and ramp lanes in this area.

When 2024 comes to a close, INDOT is looking ahead to the next big thing, the I-65 Safety and Efficiency Project.

“I think what we are seeing in Marion County in general is a lot of old pavement,” Cramer said. “This is some old pavement so what we have to do with that is we have to go in and renew it every few years… That is our biggest focus, the pavement and making sure we keep it up to date.”

The project will reshape the five mile stretch of interstate between I-465 and Fletcher Avenue. This includes pavement restoration work, bridge rehabilitation, and the addition of a travel lane on each side of the interstate. The hope is to reduce congestion and improve the overall flow of traffic in this area

“That’s kind of the goal of any project you are going to that we are doing in Marion County and all over the state,” Cramer said. “We are the crossroads of America and Marion County connects all of them.”

Construction for the I-65 Safety and Efficiency Project is expected to begin next spring.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 59.