INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Department of Transportation is finished with a record-setting construction season on Indianapolis metro area interstates for the 2019 season.
INDOT completed a historic number of construction projects in the state’s largest metro area this year to resurface asphalt pavement, repair concrete, and rehabilitate bridges along major interstate routes. Between projects targeted to address winter damage and schedule maintenance and construction, INDOT invested more than $140 million to improve Indy metro area interstates and greatly reduce the number of potholes motorists may experience moving forward.
From April to December, contractors from Rieth-Riley Construction, Milestone Contractors, and E&B Paving resurfaced or repaired 486 interstate lane miles. 277 lane miles were repaved with new asphalt surface, and 209 lane miles of concrete pavement were repaired. Hundreds of concrete panels were removed and replaced and thousands of linear feet of concrete joints repaired, eliminating cracks that, if left untouched, would result in potholes during future freeze/thaw cycles.
Repairing and replacing aging infrastructure is the most effective strategy for reducing the likelihood of potholes and ensuring a smooth driving experience.
In addition to pavement restoration, INDOT contractors rehabilitated 45 bridges in the Indy metro area in 2019.
Rehabilitation included patches, new overlays and fixing bridge joints – all of which make for a smoother ride.
The I-465 Southeast project included two bridge deck overlays at the U.S.40 (Washington St.) interchange. Both overlays were completed under full interstate closures allowing the work to be completed in less than two weeks for each bridge versus 8-9 months under normal traffic.
While contractors were completing road construction, INDOT crews took advantage of lane closures to completed needed maintenance work including:
- 7,070 miles in road sweeping
- 55 miles of crack sealing
- 2,044 yards of litter pickup
- 818 tons of material used for patches
- 3,895 tons of material used for spot paving
- Storm drain clearing
- Sign replacement
- Barrier wall/guardrail repair
Completing maintenance work during construction closures is safer for INDOT team members and saves both time and money for taxpayers and motorists.
Indiana State Police partnered with INDOT and contractors to help protect motorists and highway workers during throughout the construction season. New this year, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officers and Hoosier Helpers also assisted with ensuring safety in Indy area work zones.
Officers and Hoosier Helpers were on patrol approaching work zones and at ramps to alert motorists of approaching construction and reduced speeds. IMPD officers also provided traffic control on local detour routes.
During the season, 53 ISP troopers, 56 IMPD officers and 9 Hoosier Helpers protected drivers on the interstates.
