The Indiana Department of Transportation will begin lane closures on I-65 lanes northbound and southbound on I-65 south of Columbus beginning Monday between mile markers 64 and 68, which is the Columbus exit.
Various lane closings are being scheduled for several different construction operations over the next eight weeks, including:
Monday through July 26: Overnight closures of an inside and outside I-65 lane for shoulder strengthening and partial-depth patching between mile markers 64 and 68. Sections of one lane in either direction will be closed from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m.
Beginning on July 27/weekends: Beginning July 27, single-lane closures will affect northbound and southbound lanes for six weekends to allow contractor crews to prep and overlay the bridge deck on the single-span 90-foot bridge over Denois Creek at mile marker 65.5. Restrictions will begin at 6 p.m. Fridays and continue through noon Sundays. In addition to overlaying the bridge deck, the contractor will pour new 20-foot approach slabs and make full-depth concrete patches near the bridge.
Also, the inside or outside lane of lanes going northbound or southbound will close either Friday night or Saturday night for six weekends between 7 p.m. and 10 a.m. Crews will saw-cut deteriorating pavement and form full-depth concrete patches from mile marker 64 to 68. Extended hours for the closings are required to allow time for the new concrete to cure.
After Labor Day: I-65 from north of State Road 58/Walesboro to ramps at State Road 46 in Columbus will be milled and resurfaced. the operation will require single lane closings at moving worksites and paving will continue for two weeks. Motorists should anticipate slowed or stopped traffic during peak travel times.
Aug. 4 traffic pattern change: Beginning Aug. 4, all southbound I-65 traffic will be routed to the east side of I-65 (northbound side) at a median crossover north of State Road 58 near mile marker 64. Southbound motorists will be routed back to the southbound side at a median crossover near mile marker 61.5. The shift to the interstate’s east side will be to accommodate two 11-foot-wide lanes of traffic in each direction. It remains in effect while the west half of the interstate is under construction.
E&B Paving is the contractor for the three-year $143 million Next Level Roads I-65 project between Seymour and Columbus, which calls for constructing a six-lane roadway between U.S. 50 and State Road 58. It also calls for repairing and resurfacing the four lanes between State Road 58 and State Road 56, There is also significant bridge work at 27 different sites along the 17-mile route.
