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.

The problematic stretch of highway extends between mile markers 219 in Pendleton and 234 in Daleville.

The recommendation by the I-69 Ohio River Crossing Project Team calls for tearing down one bridge.

Initial work on the highway's final 26 miles to Interstate 465 in Indianapolis is planned through Martinsville outside the current Indiana 37 lanes.

In a report released Friday, officials recommend the easternmost of the three routes that were under consideration.

Permanent speed limit signs are in place and uncovered, but the Indiana Department of Transportation says flashing work zone speed limit signs will indicate when drivers need to slow down.

When the state took I-69 construction over, it hoped to finish mainline construction by August of this year.

The Indiana Department of Transportation wants to close the stretch of State Road 37 for one construction season in order to expedite I-69 construction.