INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Department of Transportation plans to shift traffic on westbound Interstate 70 onto new pavement in the North Split in downtown Indianapolis between Thursday night and Friday morning.
INDOT said drivers using I-70 westbound to I-65 northbound will be moved from a recently-built bridge to the permanent configuration during the switch, which is weather-dependent.
Crews will start moving barrels and barrier walls starting at 9 p.m. Thursday night and will work through the night to shift westbound traffic off the new bridge and onto the new pavement.
Since July, traffic connecting I-70 to I-65 in both directions was using the new bridge while the new pavement was built.
Under the permanent configuration, traffic will follow different lanes to access I-70 westbound and Michigan Street.
Drivers approaching the Split from westbound I-70 after the switchover will need to use the two right lanes to continue to northbound I-65 toward Chicago.
To stay on I-70 through downtown toward the airport, drivers will now use the left two lanes of I-70.
For access to the downtown collector and distributor ramp and Michigan Street, drivers must use the center lane on westbound I-70.
Ramps impacted
The Meridian/Pennsylvania exit ramp from northbound I-65 will remain closed and I-70 traffic will no longer have access to this ramp in the final North Split configuration.
After the shift, the ramp from northbound Rural Street to westbound I-70 will reopen, but the southbound Keystone ramp to westbound I-70 will remain closed until I-65 lanes are opened at the end of April, according to INDOT.
Downtown access points
- I-70 westbound to the collector/distributor exit ramp to Michigan Street
- I-65 northbound to the I-70 eastbound exit ramp to Washington Street
- I-70 westbound to Martin Luther King. Jr/West Street
- I-65 southbound to Illinois/Meridian Street
- I-65 southbound to West Street
- All existing ramps on I-70 west of the South Split
The North Split project was designed to provide safer, free-flowing travel for the thousands of drivers who use the interchange daily.
When finished, the Split will occupy a smaller footprint and increase the walkability of nearby downtown Indianapolis neighborhoods.