I-465, I-69 project design underway

Saw this today:
http://www.county29.net/cms2/index.php?option=com_content&task=...

Anyone else make this commute? I live in Giest and drive to Carmel...15 miles = 40 minutes

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I-465, I-69 project design underway
Written by Staff
Tuesday, 22 July 2008

The Indiana Department of Transportation announced Monday the launch of the Interstate 465/69 Northeast project design. The $567 million project will dramatically widen and rebuild 8 miles of I-465 and more than 2 miles of I-69 in northeastern Marion County.

The 465/69 Northeast project will upgrade I-465 from just east of U.S. 31/Meridian Street to the bridge over Fall Creek, and I-69 from 75th Street to just south of 96th Street and is expected to relieve weekday congestion for half of the busy I-69 commuting corridor between the I-465 and Indiana 37 exits.

More than 150,000 vehicles move through the project corridor each day, making it one of the most heavily traveled in the state. Construction is scheduled to start on the west end of the project in 2012. Work to widen I-69 north of the I-465 interchange is scheduled to begin no later than 2014.
INDOT is also planning to bid a separate $9 million Major Moves contract in 2009 for I-69 interim improvements in Hamilton County.

INDOT has awarded URS Corp., an international engineering firm with an office in Indianapolis, a design contract worth up to $46.6 million. Other services that URS will perform on the state’s behalf include project management, financial planning, environmental documentation, land acquisition, permitting and utility coordination. To expedite the project schedule, URS contractors have already begun surveying topographical features and drilling for soils testing.

Citizens can follow the design progress and learn more about the project on the Web at www.465-69northeast.IN.gov.

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by William on July 23, 2008 at 10:12am: Thankfully I can avoid that area, but I'll be dealing with the US-31/431 project.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Fred Yde on July 23, 2008 at 10:14am: I would love to see URS incorporate the infrastructure for high speed rail in the median of the I-69 corridor. It sure seems we should be preparing for the probability that we are going to need mass transit venues, no matter how unprofitable they are short term. In the long run, we will be dramatically hurting our prospects for a higher quality of life. Dependence on current energy sources comes directly from our blind insistence on one person per car travel. That dependence is choking our economy today. What will our economy look like in the future without a big change?
Part of that big change HAS to include a big increase in butts per unit travel. Let's do this when we are already under construction.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Fred Yde on July 23, 2008 at 11:35am: The US 31 corridor is another place where the infrastructure for high speed rail can be incorporated into its transformation, which will be coming after Carmel finishes 431 ( Keystone )...hopefully. God help us if the state decides to embark on US31 before Keystone is done. Carmel is saying 3 years on Keystone, so for the next three years there will be a lot of traffic on that road. Coupled with the somewhat ill conceived notion that trucks are prohibited on Keystone now, that means 31 will be burdened with very heavy traffic, and is likely to fall into considerable disrepair during that time. When 31 finally does get its turn, I truly hope the future of our commute is taken into its final design considerations. Neglecting mass transit will be a fatal flaw.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by William on July 23, 2008 at 12:57pm: I would definitely take part in mass transit if it were available as far north as I live (Cicero).; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Bravo on July 28, 2008 at 11:36pm: I think we will be seeing the madness that we do not want to see. They are starting to mark off the median on US31 north of Cicero. They have the construction signs posted and have been doing some preparation. I live in Tipton, and I continually see my commute to work becoming un-bearable for several years to come. Hopefully, can talk the boss into working from home for at least a couple days a week.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by William on July 28, 2008 at 11:40pm: Hmm...I haven't really noticed. Of course I don't go north of Cicero, so nevermind.

Bravo said:
They are starting to mark off the median on US31 north of Cicero. They have the construction signs posted and have been doing some preparation.

Amen, I'll back you up on that! If my wife gets a job, she will have the car and you will be my only ride to work.

Bravo said:
Hopefully, can talk the boss into working from home for at least a couple days a week.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Joe on July 29, 2008 at 12:16pm: I live in Castleton and commute downtonwn. I-69/465 is typically my best bet. But, I try to avoid it at all costs. Too much going on. Too many people and not enough space.; ▶ Reply to This