(Photo Credit: Getty Images)
Heads up northsiders and southsiders – your commute this Monday morning could be incredibly wonky.
I-465 on the southwest side will be shutdown, another Fall Creek Bridge will close, and Meridian St. will reopen. Let’s get right to it!
- I-465 – eastbound lanes only – are closed on the southwest side after the I-70 interchange to the I-65 interchange for ten days. Shortly after, the westbound lanes will shutdown over the same stretch of road.
- The College Ave. bridge over Fall Creek will close Monday after morning rush for 60-days to fix the deck and repair the sidewalks. The bridge will reopen on November, 17th – weather permitting.
- At the same time, Citizens Energy finished work early on a portion of its DigIndy project and reopened Meridian St. from Fall Creek Pkwy. to 30th St.
- BUT!!! The reopening of Central Ave. bridge – which has been closed all year because of erosion – has been DELAYED until SPRING of 2019. In a press release, the Department of Public Works (DPW) says extra time is needed because of the “historic nature of the bridge.” The Central Ave. bridge was originally scheduled to reopen in November of this year.
Alright. Let’s get into specifics, starting with I-465. Here it is:
I-465 WILL BE CLOSED
(Photo credit: INDOT)
The closure zone will stretch from east to west after the I-70 interchange to the I-65 interchange on the southwest side. Thank our lucky stars both sides won’t close at the same time, unlike #I65Sucks:
- Eastbound lanes will shutdown Friday, September 14th at 9pm and reopen on or before Monday, September 24th, at 5am.
During this time, the following eastbound I-465 on/off ramps will be closed:
Kentucky Ave/S.R. 67
Mann Rd.
Harding St/S.R. 37
East St/U.S. 31
(Photo credit: INDOT)
THEN, westbound lanes will shutdown Friday, September 28th at 9pm and reopen on or before Monday October 8th, at 5am.
During this time, the following westbound I-465 on/off ramps will be closed:
Kentucky Ave/S.R. 67
Mann Rd.
Harding St/S.R. 37
East St/U.S. 31
(Photo credit: INDOT)
Essentially, ten day closures for each direction.
Drivers will use I-65 and I-70 as reroutes during the closure. If you normally use I-465 to reach S.R. 37 or S.R. 67, it’s suggested that you take I-70 to Harding Street (Exit 78). Southbound Harding Street will take motorists to S.R. 37 or S.R. 67 via Kentucky Avenue.
If you normally take I-465 to U.S. 31/East St, try making a dash for I-65 instead.
TWO BRIDGES CLOSED, ONE STREET REOPENS
Again, College Ave. bridge over Fall Creek will close Monday – this is in addition to the already closed Central Ave. bridge over Fall Creek – but Meridian St. at Fall Creek Pkwy. will reopen early. Take a look:
The reroutes above suggest you push your commute over to Meridian St – since it’s opening the same day Capitol Ave. bridge closes. However, Meridian is down to one lane in each direction from 18th St. to 38th St. for construction on the Red Line – the high speed bus service that’s scheduled to open next year – making Meridian a real grind during morning and evening rush. Check it out:
Oh yeah. In the Meridian St. construction zone, there are several places you can’t turn left. YAHTZEE!
Need further explanation of the map above? Sure. The following illustrates that you can’t turn left FROM southbound 22nd St:
Watch out for the “no left turn” from northbound 38th St. Three cars – including myself – had to turn around at Tarkington Park, head south on Meridian, then west on 38th St. The park was really busy, so I’d recommend finding another place to turn around. Or, you can go west to Capitol Ave., then make a right – or west – at 38th St.
More:
What a mess.
Even though Meridian St. is reopening at 28th St, traffic is still taking an ugly – and possibly permanent – hit from 18th St. to 38th St.
- If you want to avoid the work zone during morning rush, make a break for the southbound one-ways – Pennsylvania St. (Penn. turns into a one-way after Fall Creek), MLK is another option, or you can use Capitol Ave.
- If you’re heading home from downtown, try the northbound one-ways – Illinois St. or Delaware St (until the one way ends after Fall Creek). Again, West St. and MLK are options.
Expect these reroutes to get heavier once word spreads about the mess on Meridian.
RECAP
Here’s all the delicious traffic action happening this weekend and Monday, in order:
- Friday, September 14th (at 9pm): Eastbound I-465 closes on the southwest side for ten days – or until Monday Sept, 24th.
- Monday, September 17th: College Ave. bridge closes over Fall Creek.
- Monday, September 17th: Meridian St. at 28th St. reopens.
- ***Central Ave. bridge remains closed until Spring, 2019.
- Monday, September 24th: Eastbound I-465 reopens.
- Friday, September 28th: Westbound I465 closes on the southwest side for ten days – or until Monday, October 8th.
Questions? Hit me up. As mentioned, I’m at @WIBCTraffic.
Please be safe.
-Bair
Matt Bair is the new voice of Indianapolis traffic, and can be followed on Twitter @WIBCTraffic..Tips? Call direct at (317) 684-8134 or the 93 WIBC Newsroom at (317) 637-6397.
