MORGAN COUNTY, Ind. (Dec. 28, 2020) – Nearly 5 miles of State Road 37 in Martinsville is scheduled to close between S.R. 39 and Morgan Street starting this Saturday, Jan. 2.
Expected to last most of 2021, the closure will allow crews to work faster and safer on I-69 Finish Line construction through Martinsville. Removing live traffic from the construction zone creates a safer environment for motorists and workers. Crews can also work faster. The full closure will allow work to be completed a full year faster than trying to maintain limited access through the work zone.
The official detour for north-south state highway traffic follows S.R. 39, S.R. 67 and S.R. 144. Long-distance traffic is encouraged to avoid the construction altogether and use alternate routes including I-65, S.R. 135 and I-70.
Several east-west roads will remain open throughout the closure to provide local access across S.R. 37. Local traffic in Morgan County is encouraged to make hands-free use of mapping apps that include real-time traffic.
What to Expect
Weather permitting, closure activity is scheduled to start with S.R. 37 southbound the morning of Saturday, Jan. 2. Law enforcement officers will direct traffic while crews change and uncover signs and install barricades. Work will continue non-stop until both directions of S.R. 37 are closed, which is anticipated to be in effect by late Saturday afternoon.
Coming into Martinsville, northbound S.R. 37 traffic will be shifted to new pavement and continue straight onto S.R. 39/Morton Avenue. The existing S.R. 37 northbound ramps at S.R. 39 will be closed for reconstruction.
Temporary State Road 44 connection
Once S.R. 37 is closed to north-south traffic, Martinsville roads remaining open across the work zone will be restriped and the traffic signals will be removed. A portion of the existing S.R. 37 pavement will be used to provide a temporary connection for S.R. 44 to S.R. 252/Hospital Drive. During this first phase of construction, Reuben Drive will be closed west of S.R. 37 for interchange construction.
More information
To view additional maps, learn about preparations made for the closure and find answers to frequently asked questions, please visit the S.R. 37 closure web page at www.i69finishline.com/closure.
Next Level Indiana
About I-69 Finish Line
I-69 Finish Line is the sixth and final section of the Interstate 69 connection between Evansville and Indianapolis. The project will upgrade the existing S.R. 37 to interstate standards between Martinsville and Indianapolis.
Governor Eric Holcomb’s Next Level Connections program fully funded the project and accelerated construction by three years. I-69 Finish Line is expected to open to traffic in late 2024, improving safety and reducing travel time.
Follow I-69 Finish Line on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
About the Indiana Hands-Free Law
In 2019, Indiana Criminal Justice Institute reported that distracted driving from mobile devices was a factor in at least 1,263 crashes and three fatal crashes. To make Hoosier roads safer, Governor Eric J. Holcomb signed the Indiana Hands-Free law to reduce distracted driving across the state. Beginning July 1, 2020, drivers are prohibited from holding a mobile device, except in emergencies, while their vehicles are moving. For more information on the new law visit www.HandsFreeIndiana.com. Hands-Free Indiana is a partnership between the Indiana Department of Transportation, Indiana State Police, Indiana Criminal Justice Institute, Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles, Indiana Constructors Inc., Indiana Motor Truck Association and ACEC Indiana.
