I-69 Interchange to Open in Indianapolis
Source: WISH-TV Garrett Bergquist
INDIANAPOLIS–The I-69 and I-465 interchange is opening on the southwest side of Indianapolis. This is the sixth and final section of the I-69 extension between Evansville and Indianapolis.
At an event commemorating the opening on Tuesday, Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb spoke. He also invited former Indiana Governors Mike Pence and Mitch Daniels to attend. Both of them accepted the invitation and showed up. All three served as governor all throughout the I-69 construction process.
The final section of construction started in 2022 as part of the Indiana Department of Transportation’s I-69 Finish Line project, which started upgrading 26 miles of State Road 37 to interstate standards through Morgan, Johnson and Marion counties.
“This was an investment in us. This was an investment in our future. This was an investment in realizing our potential,” Holcomb said Tuesday morning.
Pence said this is more than a highway, it’s a “monument.”
“I had other plans for this fall. I didn’t think I’d make it to today. All kidding aside, it is very humbling and wonderful for me to be here to share this moment. This is the culmination of an epic journey,” said Pence referencing his run for the Republican Presidential nomination before dropping out of the race last October.
The interchange has two flyover ramps connecting I-69 and I-465 just west of the existing SR 37/Harding Street interchange. South of I-465, the new I-69 diverts from the current path of SR 37 north of Edgewood Avenue.
SR 37, north of SR 144, will become I-69 once the interchange opens.
According to INDOT, I-69 Finish Line features:
-More than 26 miles of new interstate
-More than 35 new lane miles of local access roads
-39 new bridges and 35 rebuilt/replaced bridges
-The elimination of 14 traffic signals
-More than 3 million square yards of new pavement
-An 11-minute reduction in travel time from Indianapolis to Martinsville
The construction, however, is not completely done. The area near I-465 will remain an active construction zone after the interchange opens to traffic. You can expect temporary lane closures and reduced speed limits as crews complete bridge and pavement work prior to moving I-465 into its permanent configuration later this year. This includes construction at the existing Harding St. interchange.
Most remaining work will take place on I-465 between I-65 and I-70 on the southwest side of Indianapolis through the remainder of 2024. Once complete, an additional lane will be available for travel in both directions.
The I-69 southbound ramps to and from I-465 eastbound and westbound are scheduled to open to traffic this evening (Aug. 6), followed by I-69 northbound ramps to and from I-465 eastbound and westbound on or after Friday, Aug. 9.
Once construction is complete, I-69 will run continuously from the Canadian border to Evansville. It will eventually go all the way to the Mexican border.
Workers initially broke ground on the I-69 extension in 2008 in southwestern Indiana.
