INDOT Delays Opening U.S. 31 Ramp

INDOT says it won't open a new flyover ramp from U.S. 31 to eastbound I-465 today as planned, because of an "equipment malfunction." The ramp should open tomorrow or Friday, according to an agency spokesman.

The flyover replaces the existing loop ramp at the southwest side of the interchange. Motorists on southbound U.S. 31 destined for eastbound I-465 will exit just south of 103rd Street and travel on two new bridges over I-465 and Meridian Street before merging onto eastbound I-465.

Access to the flyover ramp is located north of I-465 at the same location as the southbound ramp to westbound I-465, which opened to traffic in August.  Southbound motorists should be in the right lane before reaching 103rd Street to access I-465.  INDOT will continue monitoring the signal timing at the intersection of U.S. 31 and 103rd Street and make adjustments as needed after the ramp opening.

U.S. 31 between Old Meridian Street and 136th Street reopened just before Thanksgiving after being closed since April. as part of the Major Moves project to upgrade the highway between Sound Bend and Indianapolis. 

The $350 million Hamilton County part of the project will upgrade a 13 miles of U.S. 31 between I-465 and State Road 38 and feature 11 new interchanges.  When completed in late 2015, mroe than 30 traffic signals will have been removed saving drivers about 30 minutes of travel time.

Construction still continues along U.S. 31 in Hamilton County but no additional full closures are planned at this time.

Opening the new ramp allows contractors to advance construction on a second flyover from eastbound I-465 to northbound U.S. 31 and the new eastbound I-465 exit to southbound Meridian Street.  While segments of the project are complete and U.S. 31 is open to traffic, the corridor remains an active work zone between I-465 and State Road 38.  All U.S. 31 freeway improvements in Carmel and Westfield are anticipated to be open to traffic by late 2015.