Gov. Eric Holcomb, state lawmakers and Indiana Department of Transportation officials opened the northbound section of the highway with a ribbon cutting ceremony in Martinsville. Southbound lanes are expected to open later in the week.

Last January, the Indiana Department of Transportation began the final push in its I-69 Finish Line project – converting State Road 37 north of Martinsville into an interstate highway that will eventually connect with I-465 in Indianapolis.

Nearly half the new money will go toward connecting I-69 to a new Ohio River bridge being built near Evansville, in conjunction with Kentucky.

The preferred route of a proposed highway that would run from the Ohio River to Interstate 69 in southern Indiana is expected to be announced late this year.

Leaders in the Evansville area say they're expecting action in the coming year toward the construction of an Interstate 69 bridge over the Ohio River between Indiana and Kentucky.

State Road 37 in Martinsville will be closed from the 39 interchange to Morgan Street through at least the end of 2021, as crews work on the final stretch of Interstate 69.

Officials say closing a six-mile section of Indiana 37 will allow the work to be finished in one construction season rather than two.

Officials with the Indiana Department of Transportation say the years-long push to connect Indiana north to south via Interstate 69 is on schedule to open to traffic in 2024.

Construction will begin soon on the final section of the Interstate 69 project that began more than 10 years ago to connect Evansville to Indianapolis.

This week's meetings will give the public an overview of the Mid-States Corridor Project and explain the road's purpose.