INDIANAPOLIS—Fasten your seat belt. The Indiana Department of Transportation is planning some major improvements to I 465 on the south and southwest sides of Indianapolis.
The work is not expected to begin until 2021, but when it does, drivers will face construction zones over a ten mile stretch of very busy interstate between the I 70/465 interchange near the airport and the I 65/465 interchange on the south side.
The plan, detailed Thursday in an INDOT press release, is to add one lane in each direction, while improving entrance and exit ramps.
The project also includes replacement of the Madison, Keystone and Carson Avenue bridges and the Mooresville Road Bypass bridge.
INDOT says traffic will be maintained during the work and all ramps within the interchanges will stay open.
Work on one section of 465, between Mann Road and the US 31/465 interchange, will not begin until 2022.
That stretch of highway is actually part of the project extending I 69 from its current end outside Martinsville to Indianapolis.
69 will intersect with 465 near the interchange of State Road 37 and Harding Street.
But before INDOT moves forward with any work, a public hearing is needed.
It will be held July 10, 6 p.m., at the Decatur Central High School cafeteria, 5251 Kentucky Avenue.
465 on the south side opened in the 1960's and traffic volume has grown significantly since.
Backups at busy times of the day are not uncommon, and more vehicles will be added when I 69 feeds into 465.
Long stretches of 465 on other sides of the city have been improved or are under construction now.
