Mike Wolanin | The Republic
A slide shows the current layout of the Northbound rest area on Interstate 65 during an Indiana Department of Transportation meeting in July about the upcoming construction plans for the rest areas on Interstate 65 just south of Taylorsville at Ivy Tech-Columbus in Columbus.
The Indiana Department of Transportation will close the northbound and southbound Interstate 65 Taylorsville rest areas on or aftermDec. 5, for reconstruction.
The rest area locations, which are at mile marker 74.5 southbound and mile marker 72.5 northbound in Bartholomew County, will be converted to truck parking-only facilities and will include the following improvements:
- Construction of 38 additional truck parking spaces at the northbound rest area – new total of 8spaces.
- Construction of 31 additional truck parking spaces at the southbound rest area – new total of 75 spaces.
- Construction of two new trucker restroom facilities at each location
- Removal of current restroom facilities at each location
The project is anticipated to be complete in late 2027, weather permitting.
The northbound and southbound rest areas will remain closed throughout the duration of the project. Traffic impacts are not expected on mainline I-65 during construction.
The initial estimated cost to revitalize the facilities built in 1975 was $16.4 million, but has since been increased to $40 million due to unforeseen expenses, said INDOT public relations director Sidney Nierman. The construction is state funded, but federal funds via Truck Parking Information and Management System may be used, according to a legal notice from INDOT.
Currently, the northbound rest area has an average capacity of 81% during peak hours of 10 p.m. to 8 a.m., while the southbound rest area has an average capacity of 100% during the same hours. The capacity being high at both locations increases the risk of trucks being illegally parked on the entrance or exit ramps to the rest areas. Parking spots will increase from 39 to 82 at the northbound rest area and from 45 to 75 at the southbound location.
To increase parking availability, engineers decided to eliminate car parking at both north and southbound rest areas. This eliminates 45 car spaces from the northbound rest area and 69 from the southbound location. Project managers said there are private facilities for individuals to utilize while traveling near Taylorsville, located four miles north of the northbound facility and six miles south of the southbound facility. They referred to these as the Taylorsville exit off I-65 at U.S. 31 and the Columbus exit off I-65 at State Road 46.
Seven buildings across both rest areas will be demolished to update facilities to INDOT standards, including lighting to minimize light pollution and signage. The existing right-of-way fence also will be replaced with a new 48-inch chain link fence. Both north and southbound rest areas will receive new vending and restroom facilities in addition to maintenance facilities.
This project is part of INDOT’s long-term Rest Area and Welcome Center Improvement Plan, which will add more than 1,200 semitruck parking spaces across the state. The $26.6 million contract for this project was awarded to Milestone Contractors in October.
