COLUMBUS, Ind. — The Indiana Department of Transportation is installing permanent supplemental hanger systems on the I-65 Gateway Arch Bridge over State Road 46 as a precautionary measure after some corrosion was found during recent inspections.
Motorists who travel through the major intersection on Columbus’ west side have noticed supports under the bridge and new traffic patterns to the entry and exit ramps on State Road 46 since the work began.
Permanent supplemental hanger systems will be put in place early this year, said Natalie Garrett, strategic communications director at INDOT. After that work is completed, temporary structures will be removed and the interchange operations will be restored back to their original configuration either late this winter or in early spring, she said.
“This work is being done as a precautionary measure due to corrosion found during recent cable inspections,” Garrett said. “The hangers will provide additional support for the I-65 bridge over State Road 46.”
An overweight truck restriction of 80,000 pounds remains in place for the bridge, and truck drivers are warned on I-65 by signs that they must exit before crossing the bridge as the work continues.
Oversize and overweight vehicles in the southbound lanes are instructed to exit I-65 and follow Jonathan Moore Pike east to State Road 11. Trucks can follow State Road 11 south before turning west on County Road 450S, which takes them back to the interstate.
For trucks getting off the interstate from the northbound lanes, Garrett recommends taking State Road 46 (Second and State streets) through Columbus. Trucks can stay on the highway before turning left at the U.S. 31 intersection, which will take trucks back to the I-65 on ramp in Taylorsville.
For more on this story, see Wednesday’s Republic.
