Staff Reports
The Indiana Department of Transportation plans to open newly paved I-65 concrete lanes between Seymour and Columbus.
The state has an ongoing $143 million road construction project on I-65 to widen it to three lanes between the two cities.
INDOT is anticipating eliminating the use of the southbound median crossover north of the Walesboro Exit at State Road 58 on Dec. 7, meaning southbound traffic will remain on the west side of the interstate.
This new winter traffic configuration on I-65 will remain in effect throughout the winter, the department said.
The number of accidents in construction zones should be reduced by relocating concrete barriers, INDOT spokesman Harry Maginity said.
“They are going to pull all the barrier walls back,” Maginity said. “Most of the closed lanes will be cordoned off with orange barrels.”
Over the past several months, several secondary accidents have either slowed or stalled traffic in I-65 construction zones that have been the result of semis hitting the concrete barriers, Maginity said.
Since the collapsible walls with guardrails cost about $3,000 apiece to replace, the unusually high number of accidents have been a burden to taxpayers, as well as a nuisance and danger to motorists, he said.
Orange barrels will restrict traffic from third-lane travel while various work continues throughout most of the I-65 construction zone this winter. This includes subgrade work for an added lane on the northbound side and bridge work at White River and the Louisville & Indiana Railroad underpass.
Most of the concrete barriers will be moved well into the closed left lane near the median this winter to protect crews who will be performing bridge work and solid stabilization, Maginity said.
According to INDOT, work in I-65 in the Columbus area that has been completed during the 2018 construction season by primary contractor E & B Paving and its subcontractors includes:
Construction of eastbound and westbound turn lanes at the State Road 58 interchange, plus new traffic signals there and at State Road 58/International Drive.
Installation of Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) cameras along entire I-65 corridor.
I-65 repairs and resurfacing of 3.5 miles of asphalt pavement between State Roads 58 and 46, plus rehabilitation of I-65’s bridge over Denois Creek.
Widening and reconstruction of I-65 from State Road 58 to Smalls Creek to accommodate three southbound travel lanes, plus widening of the corresponding northbound lane with rehabilitation of the I-65 bridge over Smalls Creek and the County Road 625S bridge over I-65.
Northbound I-65 widening from Smalls Creek to just north of State Road 11, plus rehabilitation of Countyline Road’s bridge over I-65.
