INDIANAPOLIS — Beth Brandon walked to each construction project display set up in the auditorium of SUPER School 19 on the city’s southeast side. She stopped at the sixth display that showed a proposed plan to widen the northbound I-65 lanes near the Morris Street and Prospect Street underpass.
As I-65 drivers approach the split over that intersection the road transitions from three lanes to four: two continuing north and two that merge with I-70. INDOT wants to convert the three lanes leading to that split into four to accommodate more traffic.
Brandon pondered at the proposed display showing the idea, which would shrink the inside and outside shoulders.
“My concern is for first responders during an emergency,” Brandon told the IndyStar. “If we make the shoulders smaller then I’m wondering for ambulances and crews is that space going to be impassable? But of course, I’d have to know the actual measurements of the shoulders to make that determination, but it is a concern.”
There were many concerns similar to Brandon’s at the public hearing on Wednesday, July 24.
Over a dozen people signed up to speak with more than 60 people in attendance to learn more about I-65 Safety & Efficiency, an Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) project aimed at bringing improvements to the interstate on the southeast side of Indianapolis.
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Parson’s project manager, John LaBlonde, said the goal is to improve traffic flow and safety. Parson Corporation is the lead project and design firm for the plan, which aims to reduce corridor congestion and extend pavement life.
The needs for highway improvements stem from current and projected congestion during peak hours like rush hour traffic.
Parson’s public involvement director, Mindy Peterson, said that construction will start Spring 2025 and last up to two years. She emphasizes that throughout the project, they want to keep open communication with neighbors to remain transparent about construction updates.
“So when there are impacts, traffic changes, things you need to know about progress, we’re going to let you know and make sure that you receive those,” Peterson said.
People can text “INDOT I65SandE” to 468311 for text updates. You can also sign up for email updates on the project website.
Parson project team members were available to chat with stakeholders like Brandon to answer any questions.
I-65 Safety & Efficiency overview
I-65 Safety & Efficiency are planned improvements on the southeast side of downtown Indianapolis. It covers a nearly 5-mile corridor extending from north of the I-465 interchange to north of Fletcher Avenue. At a glance, the project is focused on adding capacity to the road, bridge improvements, pavement resurfacing and drainage improvements.
Improvements include bridge widening and rehabilitation of the Morris and Prospect Street underpass, bridge widening for the Pleasant Run and Noami underpasses, and bridge replacement for Hanna Avenue over I-65.
Pavement patching and resurfacing of I-65 from Fletcher Avenue down past Troy Avenue is to help reduce degradation.
Repairs also will be made for pedestrians along parts of Hanna Avenue, Keystone Avenue, Raymond Street, Naomi Street, Pleasant Run Parkway, Shelby Street, Morris/Prospect Street, Troy Avenue, Nelson Avenue and Bradbury Avenue.
The project will add lanes in each direction between I-465 and I-70 so when construction is complete, there will be four lanes in each direction.
Public comment about I-65 Safety & Efficiency
City-county councilman, Frank Mascari, wanted to know if any money allocations will be happening for the inconvenience of construction.
“Most of our neighborhoods that I represent, Garfield Park, most of them are all against this completely,” Mascari said. “It’s kind of a sad deal and Hanna Avenue is going to be closed for a whole year, you say? Are you going to allocate money to rebuilding all those streets that are going to be heavily trafficked?”
Related: I-465 reopens between I-65 and I-70
Next steps
Residents can pick up a project handout, complete a comment form, and leave a completed form at any of the sites listed below:
Eleanor Skillen School 34, 10410 Wade Street, Indianapolis, IN
Frederick Douglass SUPER School 19, 2020 Dawson Street, Indianapolis, IN
Garfield Park Conservatory, 2505 Conservatory Drive, Indianapolis, IN
Garfield Park Branch, Indy Public Library, 2502 Shelby Street, Indianapolis, IN
Salvation Army, Fountain Square, 1337 Shelby Street, Indianapolis, IN
SENSE Charter School, 1601 Barth Avenue, Indianapolis, IN
Southeast Community Services, 901 Shelby Street, Indianapolis, IN
Stone Lake Apartments, 2913 E. Hanna Avenue, Indianapolis, IN
Comments on the project must be submitted by Aug. 9, 2024.
Jade Jackson is a Public Safety Reporter for the Indianapolis Star. You can email her at Jade.Jackson@IndyStar.com and follow her on X, formally Twitter @IAMJADEJACKSON.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: I-65 Safety & Efficiency construction project set to begin early 2025