BARTHOLOMEW COUNTY — Indiana Department of Transportation contractor Force Construction plans to shift traffic early next week in the I-65 construction zone south of Columbus as the added travel lanes project moves into its winter configuration.
Starting around 9 p.m. Tuesday night, alternating lane closures are planned for northbound lanes beginning just south of State Road 58. Crews will move the existing right lane closure on I-65 northbound to the left lane. Once the closure has been relocated, northbound traffic will no longer use the south crossover located near mile marker 64, but instead use the newly-constructed lanes up to mile marker 66.5 on the north end of the work zone.
At mile marker 66.5, northbound traffic will shift back to its previous lanes while remaining concrete paving is completed. Until paving is finished, traffic will exit the work zone via the north crossover near the State Road 46 interchange. Paving is expected to be complete by the Christmas holiday, weather permitting. At that time, the lane shift and crossover will be removed, and all northbound traffic will travel on new pavement throughout project limits.
Also at that time, southbound traffic will shift to the inside, where northbound traffic was previously. This will give motorists a wider outside shoulder and allow crews to prepare for the next phase of construction.
Major construction will resume next spring in southbound lanes between State Road 58 and State Road 46 46, as well as asphalt resurfacing on I-65 northbound and southbound from the Driftwood River Bridge to U.S. 31 at Taylorsville, and a deck overlay on the I-65 bridge over State Road 46.
The $65 million added travel lanes project is expected to be complete next fall, with some additional work expected through 2023.
