Contractors for the Indiana Department of Transportation plan to shift southbound traffic overnight Saturday, April 6, on U.S. 31 to share the northbound side of the highway between 151st and 169th streets.
Northbound traffic is already shifted onto temporary pavement in order to accommodate two lanes in each direction while existing southbound lanes are upgraded to freeway standards. A signed 40 mph speed limit will be enforced through the work zone. Traffic is expected to remain in this configuration until late summer, when both directions of U.S. 31 will be shifted to share the newly constructed southbound freeway lanes.
Rieth-Riley Construction, the state’s contractor for the $58 million project, also plans to close U.S. 31 access to and from 161st Street for up to 120 days on or after April 15th for construction of a new roundabout interchange. The signed detour will direct motorists north to 169th Street.
Early Friday morning, contractors will restrict the left lane of U.S. 31 in both directions between Greyhound Pass and 151st Street to remove barrier wall. The lane restriction will end by 6 a.m. On Saturday, contractors will place temporary southbound lane markings on the widened median side of northbound U.S. 31. Between Saturday at 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. Sunday, contractors will require alternating single-lane restrictions on southbound U.S. 31 in order to shift two lanes of southbound traffic onto the northbound side of the highway.
This temporary work zone configuration is expected to be in place by Sunday morning. For the safety of motorists and workers during construction, left turns are restricted in-between 151st and 169th streets but will be allowed at these two intersections.
The New U.S. 31 Hamilton County project will include new freeway exits at 146th Street, 151st Street and 161st Street. New ramps will connect 146th Street to the north with Greyhound Pass and 151st Street with a “split-diamond” interchange. A new freeway exit at 161st Street will have roundabouts controlling ramp and cross traffic. Local traffic on Union Street and 156th Street will pass under U.S. 31 with no on or off ramps.
More information about the new U.S. 31 Hamilton County and details about how to receive project updates can be found online at us31hamiltoncounty.IN.gov.