INDOT Begins U.S. 31 Project
The Indiana Department of Transportation broke ground on Tuesday for $600 million in upgrades to U.S. 31. Construction is ready to begin on two bridges in Hamilton County at State Road 38, a project estimated at more than $19 million. The entire project is being paid for with the Major Moves fund.
Hamilton County, Ind. Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) Commissioner Michael B. Cline today joined U.S. 31 Coalition members and local officials to officially break ground on the New U.S. 31 Hamilton County. The $600 million Major Moves project will upgrade the existing highway through Carmel and Westfield to interstate standards, removing roughly 10 minutes travel time and 13 stoplights between I-465 and State Road 38.
Today’s ceremony was held at Washington Township’s MacGregor Park and Nature Preserve, which had its entrance onto U.S. 31 relocated last year with a new access road. Construction begins this week on the $19.6 million U.S. 31 Hamilton County freeway exit at S.R. 38. Twin bridges will carry U.S. 31 over a low spot at S.R. 38 that has been the site of serious red light-running crashes. As part of the project’s environmental commitments, the S.R. 38 ramp entering northbound U.S. 31 will be “folded” into the southeast corner to avoid land impacts to MacGregor Park.
Work is also underway on a $6.3 million project to widen the existing 146th Street bridge over U.S. 31. The next construction contract, which is scheduled for bid this fall, stretches from the Monon Trail in Carmel to Greyhound Pass. It will rebuild and reconfigure U.S. 31 in the area, creating new ramps connecting with 146th Street and twin bridges over Range Line Road at Clay Terrace.
Part of Gov. Mitch Daniels’ Major Moves program, the New U.S. 31 Hamilton County project is intended to reduce congestion, improve safety, and provide continuity of commerce and regional travel for a U.S. highway that stretches from Michigan to Alabama. Major Moves is upgrading three congested sections of U.S. 31 to interstate standards that, when completed, are expected to cut a half hour off travel time between Indianapolis and South Bend. Upgrading the existing highway section between I-465 and State Road 38 will be, in terms of dollars invested, the largest and most aggressive road project ever constructed in Hamilton County. More information can be found at the project website, www.US31HamiltonCounty.IN.gov.
Source: Indiana Department of Transportation