I-465 EB on southwest side reopens 2 days earlier than expected

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — INDOT said “surprise!” Friday night. 

All lanes of eastbound I-465 on the southwest side, closed for the past few days as part of a $10 million project, reopened a full two days early, the Indiana Department of Transportation said.

The reopening included ramps at U.S. 31 (East Street), State Road 37 (Harding Street), Mann Road, State Road 67 (Kentucky Avenue) and I-70.

The celebration is a bit muted with the thought that soon the westbound lanes will close. I-465 westbound will close between I-65 and I-70 starting at 9 p.m. Sept. 28 for the second phase of the repair project. It should reopen on or before 5 a.m. Oct. 8. I-65 and I-70 will serve as the detour route for westbound I-465 during the closure.

“I’m thrilled to reopen eastbound I-465 to motorists more than two days earlier than anticipated,” INDOT Commissioner Joe McGuinness said in a statement. “I want to thank our partners at Rieth-Riley Construction for their tireless efforts to deliver the first phase of this project well ahead of schedule. We set an aggressive schedule and put forth an ambitious scope of work. I’m proud to say that the entire project team delivered an outstanding effort for Hoosier taxpayers.”

Work completed on eastbound I-465 included:

  • Pavement removal and replacement and concrete bridge approach replacements at four bridges
  • I-465 over Kentucky Avenue/State Road67
  • I-465 over State Ditch
  • I-465 over White River
  • I-465 over Harding Street/State Road37
  • Bridge joint replacements
  • Asphalt and concrete pavement patching

INDOT said the closings will expedite work needed to be completed and eliminate maintaining traffic during the project, which would have taken several months to complete if motorists were driving through the work zone.