Republic file photo Bicyclists pedal to downtown Columbus on the People Trail near the Front Door Bridge during the annual Bike To Work Day, Friday, June 6, 2014.
In a little over a month, the Indiana Department of Transportation plans to close entrance and exit ramps at the Interstate 65 and State Road 46 interchange on Columbus’ west side during overnight hours.
Beginning on Aug. 1, the ramps will be closed nightly between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. Monday through Thursday, according to a project description from INDOT.
Weather-permitting, the ramp closures will continue for three months until the end of October, according to a letter of understanding between INDOT and the Bartholomew County commissioners.
Improvements will include making repairs to a traverse beam on the unique bridge, which supports the entire structure from side to side. The project also calls for placing a new blacktop on the deck.
At this time, INDOT has only announced plans to detour trucks off the bridge. The official detour will utilize Johnson Boulevard, Merchant Mile and Carr Hill Road to the east of the interchange. Those heading west will use Carlos Folger Drive and County Road 325W.
While most of the detours are in the Columbus city limits, the Bartholomew County commissioners endorsed a letter of agreement Monday with INDOT. The terms essentially allows Carlos Folger Road to be part of the official truck detour.
The Columbus Board of Works has the INDOT request at the intersection on the agenda for consideration this morning at Columbus City Hall.
In exchange, state transportation officials agreed to reimburse Bartholomew County for costs related to damage repair on the detour. INDOT also agreed to set up and maintain all necessary traffic control.
Originally, the state had planned to start and complete this project last year, county highway engineer Danny Hollander said. However, due to several factors such as supply chain problem and a lack of labor, the work was put on hold until this year, he said.
While under construction from September 1995 through June 1997, the double-arched bridge became part of Columbus’ $46.5 million Front Door Project, and was considered the only bridge of its kind when it was completed. Most of the project was paid for through federal funding.
