INDIANAPOLIS (WTHR) - Road construction at I-465 and I-65 on the city's south side goes into full gear this week, with closures already in effect for your drive-in Monday morning.
The eastbound loop ramp from I-465 to northbound I-65 closed Sunday night at 9 p.m. and will last until the construction is completed. A detour sign will direct travelers to go south on I-65 to the Southport Road exit to get on northbound I-65.
On northbound I-65 construction crews will be block up to two lanes to paint temporary lane markings and shift three northbound lanes toward the median. Additional closures of the north and south bound lanes of I-65 will happen through the week as crews mark and shift lanes.
"If you're not paying attention to your driving, you're going to be driving in someone else's lane," said INDOT Spokesperson Nathan Riggs.
That's perhaps the biggest thing to know for the Monday morning commute.
Traffic on I-65 northbound in the project area will shift left until mid-week when it will shift right.
The nearly $20 million project will rebuild six bridges on I-65 over I-465 and the Lick Creek.
"This area was recently reconstructed with different ramp motions, but that project was really targeted toward improving traffic at that southside interchange. This project is targeted towards rebuilding those bridges," Riggs said.
Engineers say it's easier and cheaper to do it all at once.
While the project sounds aggressive, INDOT says it's one of their top priorities for this construction season.
"They were built in the 1960s. They've been refurbished and really, they are at the end of their life expectancy and we're going to get the most result for the tax payer dollar by rebuilding these structures and get more life out of the new structures," Riggs said.
The speed limit will drop to as low as 45 miles-per-hour in some areas.
Both the north and south bound lanes of I-65 will then shift to the shoulders on Wednesday, as crews work to remove the concrete barriers to prepare for yet another move.
All lanes of traffic -- two south and three north -- will all be placed on the former northbound lanes. Work will then get underway on all the former southbound lanes. That is expected to begin Saturday, March 11.
The project is expected to wrap up at the end of the year.
Stay with Eyewitness News, wthr.com, and the WTHR app for updates on this project.
