INDIANAPOLIS — After nearly three weeks of construction, drivers on the southwest side of Indianapolis are ready for traffic to ease up.
“It will back clear up to I don’t know how far back, but it takes me from the second stop light past this one to the interstate, takes me about 15 minutes every day to get maybe less than a quarter of a mile. It's just really rough on all of us," said Jennifer Johnson, who works at Tiffany Lawn & Garden on South Harding Street. “It’s so hard because you’re talking about people that come in here with large trailers and they can’t get in and out of here, and then to get to the job site where they’re working. It’s been really tough on them."
The business sits near State Road 37, just minutes from Interstate 465.
INDOT crews are moving closer to reopening all eastbound lanes of I-465 between Interstate 65 and Interstate 70 on the southwest side of Indianapolis.
Like many drivers, Johnson had to adjust her route to work.
“I go down 465 to Sam Jones and then across Sam Jones to Harding Street," Johnson said. "It’s not bad, but everybody else is going in that direction, too, so luckily for me, everybody is usually going the opposite way."
According to INDOT, opening the eastbound lanes will be staged and take time.
Ramps will open in sequence, starting with I-65 at the east end of the project and ending with I-70 at the west end.
Hundreds of crews have been working 24/7 to get the work done.
But starting July 7 through July 29, the westbound lanes between I-69 and I-70 will close. It's round two for drivers.
“There’s no other way around it. You’re going to get stuck,” Johnson said.
And her advice?
“Patience. It will not last forever," Johnson said.
All travel lanes and ramps on eastbound I-65 are expected to open in time for the Thursday morning rush hour.
INDOT encouraged drivers to keep an eye out for workers and those changing traffic patterns.