I-465 westbound at I-69 reopens

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Interstate 465 westbound at I-69 on the city’s northeast side reopened Friday afternoon after being closed due to a tanker explosion.

After thorough visual inspection, Indiana Department of Transportation bridge inspectors, with the assistance of the Federal Highway Administration, Purdue University School of Civil Engineering and private bridge contractors, have determined the westbound bridge to be structurally sound for traffic. The Binford Boulevard northbound ramp to I-465 westbound is also now open.

• View a list of alternate routes around the closure
• Indianapolis Traffic Map

Additional testing is being done on the eastbound bridge, which was directly over the crash scene. This afternoon, test samples of the bridge structure are being sent via helicopter to a testing facility. Samples from the westbound bridge are being used for comparison. INDOT’s plan for repairs will be based on test results. At a minimum, the misplaced pillar must be replaced with temporary or permanent supports.

"Safety is our primary concern here," said INDOT spokesman Will Wingfield. "On Friday, no more smoke and flames, but commuter safety remained the concern where burned rubble and a badly scorched and damaged bridge kept traffic off limits."

I-465 eastbound remains closed between U.S. 31/Meridian Street and the 56th Street/Shadeland Avenue interchanges. Because Allisonville Road and Keystone Avenue are not equipped to handle high volumes of commercial traffic, all eastbound I-465 traffic is being rerouted at U.S. 31, a state highway built to manage commercial vehicles. Signal adjustments are being made at affected interchanges to improve traffic flow.

Below is a listing of ramps that are open and closed at the busy I-465 and I-69 interchange:

• I-465 northbound ramp to I-69 northbound: OPEN
• I-69 southbound ramp to I-465 westbound: OPEN
• Binford Boulevard northbound ramp that loops up to enter I-465 westbound: OPEN
• I-69 southbound ramp to I-465 southbound: CLOSED
• I-465 eastbound ramp that loops down to enter I-69 northbound: CLOSED
• I-465 eastbound ramp to Binford Boulevard southbound: CLOSED
• I-865 southbound to I-465: CLOSED

Transportation officials said local traffic should plan extra time and stagger their commutes in anticipation of alternate routes being congested. Dynamic message boards posted along interstates approaching Indianapolis encourage through traffic to follow I-65 and I-70. Vehicles over 13 feet 6 inches in height must contact Department of Revenue Motor Carrier Services for a permitted route. All motorists are encouraged to “know before you go” by checking local traffic reports and INDOT’s traveler information Web site.