465-69 Northeast

Allisonville Road Closure at I-465 Reduced to 110 Days

Thu, 03 Nov 2011 14:05:42 -0500

Allisonville Road Closure at I-465 Reduced to 110 Days

Walsh Construction awarded $19 million contract to rebuild I-465 interchange

CASTLETON, Ind. – The Allisonville Road bridge over I-465 will be closed during interchange reconstruction next year for approximately 110 days, a little more than half of the seven-month closure that engineers anticipated earlier this year.

The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) is increasingly making use of an innovative bidding technique that has contractors compete over how quickly ramps and bridges can be reopened to traffic. Walsh Construction of Crown Point submitted the lowest and best bid among three contractors, offering to reopen the bridge to traffic in 110 days, weather and other factors permitting.

Businesses and commuters learned more at a project open house this evening at East 91st Street Christian Church.

Walsh Construction will rebuild and reconfigure the I-465 interchange at Allisonville Road on the city’s northeast side for $19 million. An incentive will be offered for each day the bridge is reopened earlier than the 110-day closure period. Should it take them longer than 110 days to reopen the bridge, the contractor will be liable for damages. Walsh is allowed to schedule the closure any time on or after March 1, 2012, with substantial completion of the project to occur before the holiday shopping season.

A traditional approach of rebuilding the Allisonville Road Bridge half at a time would have required lane closures for two construction seasons, including at least one holiday shopping season. Allisonville Road has the lowest clearance of any bridge over I-465 and is regularly struck by over-height vehicles. The new bridge will be built five-and-a-half feet higher than the existing.

Through and left-turning traffic on Allisonville Road at I-465 will be prohibited for approximately 110 days. All I-465 ramps will remain open, except for 15-day closures of the Allisonville Road ramps entering I-465. At all times during construction, I-465 eastbound traffic will have access to southbound Allisonville Road, and I-465 westbound traffic will have access to northbound Allisonville Road. Fifteen-day closures are planned for the southbound Allisonville Road ramp entering westbound I-465, and the northbound Allisonville Road ramp entering eastbound I-465.

In addition to contract incentives, INDOT is also investing in nearby intersections to improve traffic flow during construction. The official signed detour will use Keystone Avenue, 96th Street, I-69 and 82nd Street. However, recognizing that many people will use other routes, plans call for improvements to the signal timing and lane configurations for the intersections at 86th Street/Allisonville Road, 82nd Street/Allisonville Road, 86th Street/Keystone Avenue, and 82nd Street/Center Run Drive. The City of Indianapolis, the Town of Fishers and the City of Carmel will monitor traffic signal timing and update accordingly.

As part of the 465/69 Northeast project, the Allisonville Road interchange will be reconfigured into a single-point urban interchange similar to the I-465 exit at Emerson Avenue in Beech Grove. Traffic signals at the top of entrance and exit ramps will be consolidated into one, improving traffic flow in all directions. The planned design can be viewed at www.465-69northeast.in.gov/Allisonville.

INDOT and the 465/69 Northeast project team plans to keep businesses and commuters informed each step of the way as the bridge closure approaches. Additional public outreach is planned in early 2012, including an additional public open house, presentations and meetings with area businesses. Businesses and commuters are encouraged to subscribe to the e-newsletter at www.465-69northeast.in.gov or text DRIVE to 772937.

--30--

Construction Contract Advertised for Allisonville Road Interchange

Thu, 18 Aug 2011 09:27:28 -0500

Construction Contract Advertised for Allisonville Road Interchange

‘Hyperfix’ approach will close bridge over I-465 for no more than five months

INDIANAPOLIS – In a published advertisement, highway contractors have been challenged to develop creative bids that would close the Allisonville Road bridge over I-465 for the shortest time possible, not to exceed five months.

Building on successful Indianapolis projects like Hyperfix and Super 70, the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) is using incentives to improve safety and minimize impacts to commuters and neighboring businesses. In addition to price, contractors will compete over the number of days in which they can reopen the bridge. Similar bidding techniques have reduced anticipated bridge and ramp closures for the State Road 267 over I-65, I-465 at Keystone Avenue and the Milton-Madison Bridge.

The winning contractor will also receive incentives for each day they reopen the bridge earlier than anticipated in their bid. The closure would begin in spring 2012 after the Super Bowl and would not impact any holiday shopping seasons.

Through and left-turning traffic at Allisonville Road will be prohibited for no more than five months, but I-465 ramps would remain open. I-465 eastbound traffic will be able to enter and exit Allisonville Road south of the bridge. I-465 westbound traffic will be able to enter and exit Allisonville Road north of the bridge. In addition to contract incentives, INDOT is also investing in nearby intersections to improve traffic flow during construction.

As part of the 465/69 Northeast project, the Allisonville Road interchange will be reconfigured into a single-point urban interchange similar to the I-465 Beech Grove exit at Emerson Avenue. Traffic signals at the top of entrance and exit ramps will be consolidated into one, improving traffic flow in all directions. The planned design can be viewed at www.465-69northeast.in.gov/AllisonI465.html. The project’s cost is estimated at almost $19 million.

A traditional approach of rebuilding the Allisonville Road bridge half at a time would have required lane closures for two construction seasons, including at least one holiday shopping season. Allisonville Road has the lowest clearance of any bridge over I-465 and is regularly struck by over-height vehicles. The new bridge will be built five-and-a-half feet higher than the existing.

INDOT discussed options and gathered input from area businesses and local officials at one-on-one meetings, community presentations and a November open house. Additional public outreach is planned after a contract is awarded this fall, including a public open house, presentations and meetings with area businesses. For more information and to subscribe to the project’s e-newsletter, please visit www.465-69northeast.in.gov.

--30--

INDOT Closes 75th Street

Mon, 11 Apr 2011 15:15:28 -0500

INDOT Closes 75th Street for Bridge Reconstruction

Section of 71st Street Resurfaced for Added Traffic

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind.—The Indiana Department of Transportation will close 75^th Street Tuesday morning between Shadeland Avenue and a terminus near Kitley—just east of Binford Avenue. Milestone, the state’s contractor, will start demolishing the 75^th Street bridge spanning Interstate 465 on the city’s northeast side soon after the closure.

Paving crews worked last week to mill and resurface nearby 71^st Street between Shadeland and Johnson Road in advance of the 75^th Street closure. This .24 mile section of repaved east-west roadway is expected to carry increased traffic through the summer months. Pavement markings will continue to be placed under traffic on Monday.

NOTE: The official detour is: Binford/I-69 to 82^nd Street to Shadeland.

Local traffic will be allowed access to addresses along 75^th Street on either side of the bridge site.

I-465 traffic with be shifted during construction of the new bridge structure, but all lanes should remain open. Occasional nighttime lane closures will occur as Milestone builds the center pier and other bridge components.

The new 75^th Street bridge will be a continuous prestressed concrete bulb-T beam structure—widening the roadway from two to four lanes. Plans call for two spans measuring 145 and 139 feet.

While one Milestone crew replaces the bridge, others will rebuild 75^th Street itself. The $5,533,240 Major Moves project calls for reconstructing .45 miles of 75^th with five lifts of asphalt over a treated subgrade. The roadway will be widened to accommodate four 12-foot travel lanes and an occasional fifth lane for turns.

-30-

INDOT Schedules Reconstruction of 75th Street Bridge over I-465

Tue, 22 Mar 2011 09:58:20 -0500

INDOT Schedules Reconstruction of 75th Street Bridge over I-465

INDIANAPOLIS - The Indiana Department of Transportation has given its contractor, Milestone, the Notice To Proceed for replacing the 75^th Street bridge that spans Interstate 465 on the city’s northeast side—and for reconstructing the 75^th Street roadbed from Shadeland to Binford Avenue.

A public meeting/open house to discuss the project and answer questions from area residents and businesses is scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m., Thursday, March 24, at Divine Savior Lutheran Church at 7315 E. 75th Street.

Milestone was awarded the Major Moves contract based on its low bid of approximately $5.5 million.

Because 71st Street will be used frequently during the closure, INDOT will resurface one-quarter mile of 71st Street from Shadeland Avenue to Johnson Road. This paving will begin April 4, weather permitting, and be complete before the 75th Street work begins. Flaggers will be on site to direct traffic during the paving.

As early as April 11, crews will remove the 75th Street bridge over I-465. One lane in each direction will be maintained for local traffic.

I-465 traffic will be shifted, but all lanes will remain open during the day. There will be occasional nighttime closures throughout the bridge construction.

Once complete, the 75th Street bridge will span four lanes and have a sidewalk along one side.

Johnson Road will closed as part of the 75th Street work. That closure will not begin until early June.

-30-

INDOT to Shift Allisonville Road, Reopen Lane by End of March

Fri, 04 Mar 2011 14:30:47 -0600

INDOT to Shift Allisonville Road, Reopen Lane by End of March

Crews to Partially Remove Median and Restripe the Bridge

CASTLETON, Ind. – The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) plans to partially remove a concrete median and restripe Allisonville Road over I-465 such that all lanes across the bridge can be reopened. The right lane of northbound Allisonville Road was closed Tuesday, March 1, after an over-height truck below the bridge struck a steel beam.

If weather and temperatures allow this weekend, crews will restripe southbound Allisonville Road to shift traffic toward the outside shoulder. This will give contractors room to saw cut and partially remove an existing concrete median so it becomes driveable and flush with neighboring lanes. Striping crews will then shift northbound Allisonville Road to the west around the portion of the bridge that was removed March 3.

By the end of March, weather permitting, the Allisonville Road bridge is expected to again carry two through lanes and one turn lane in each direction for a total of six lanes. Once completed, traffic will remain in the configuration until the bridge is replaced as part of 465/69 Northeast. Work to reconfigure the exit into a single-point urban interchange was recently accelerated to begin construction no later than 2012.

Damaged Allisonville Road Bridge Beam to be Removed

Wed, 02 Mar 2011 22:06:25 -0600

Damaged Allisonville Road Bridge Beam to be Removed

CASTLETON, Ind. – The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) will remove an Allisonville Road bridge beam damaged Tuesday by an over-height vehicle on I-465. The steel beam, which has been straightened three times due to previous collisions, is beyond repair and needs to be removed.

Between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Thursday, March 3, traffic that typically fills three lanes of northbound Allisonville Road at the bridge will temporarily share one lane. INDOT encourages northbound traffic to seek alternate routes tomorrow between the morning and evening rush hours.

Contractors will return to the site after 7 p.m. Thursday evening, closing lanes of I-465 eastbound during bridge beam and concrete removal overhead. Westbound traffic should not be affected, and all lanes of I-465 will reopen prior to the morning rusOnce the steel beam is safely removed, INDOT will further investigate options for reopening the northbound lane that was closed on Tuesday. Allisonville Road has the shortest clearance of any bridge crossing over I-465. Replacement of the bridge was recently accelerated as part of 465/69 Northeast to begin construction no later than 2012.h hour on Friday, March 4.

Right NB Allisonville Rd. Lane Closed at I-465

Wed, 02 Mar 2011 00:37:15 -0600

Right Lane Closed for Northbound Allisonville Road at I-465

Unpermitted vehicle on I-465 damages bridge beam

CASTLETON, Ind. – The right lane of northbound Allisonville Road is closed for the safety of the motoring public after an unpermitted vehicle on I-465 struck a steel bridge beam. Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) structural engineers determined the bridge remains safe for one through lane and one turn lane of northbound Allisonville Road, and all southbound lanes at I-465.

Allisonville Road has the least vertical clearance of any bridge crossing over I-465. INDOT engineers expect that today’s crash will reduce the clearance by another two inches to 13-foot-8. Replacement of the Allisonville Road bridge was recently accelerated as part of 465/69 Northeast to begin construction no later than 2012.

INDOT will adjust signal timing and install traffic control devices to reduce traffic backups as much as possible. One of the left turn lanes for the I-465 eastbound exit ramp will also be closed as a result of the reduced lanes over the bridge.

‘Hyperfix’ Approach Proposed for Allisonville Road Interchange

Tue, 15 Feb 2011 14:44:51 -0600

'Hyperfix' approach proposed for Allisonville Road interchange

CASTLETON, Ind. - Building on successful Indianapolis projects like Hyperfix and Super 70, the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) is considering contractor incentives to minimize impacts to motorists and neighboring businesses during replacement of the Allisonville Road bridge over I-465.

Starting next year, the 465/69 Northeast project plans to reconfigure the Allisonville Road interchange into a single-point urban interchange, similar to the I-465 Beech Grove exit at Emerson Avenue. Two traffic signals at the top of entrance and exit ramps will be consolidated into one, improving traffic flow in all directions. The planned design can be viewed at http://465-69northeast.in.gov/AllisonI465.html.

Using a traditional approach, the Allisonville Road bridge would endure two years of lane closures, stretching across at least one holiday shopping season. Rush hour and weekend traffic is anticipated to back through the nearby 82^nd and 86^th Street traffic signals, making it more difficult for patrons to access neighboring businesses. Allisonville Road has the least clearance of any bridge traveling over I-465 and is regularly struck by over-height vehicles. The new bridge will be built seven feet higher than the existing, posing additional risks to motorists and workers.

In an effort to improve safety and minimize impacts, INDOT is considering bidding incentives that would have contractors compete to close the bridge fully for as short a duration as possible. Ramp access north and south of the bridge would remain open for traffic turning right to enter or exit I-465. The bridge would be closed for no more than seven months, and not during any holiday shopping seasons. As was seen with Hyperfix and Super 70, contractor incentives promote early completion of construction.

INDOT discussed the proposal during a November open house, and is gathering detailed information for the Indianapolis Department of Public Works. A final decision will be made upon completion of ongoing coordination with the public and interested parties.

--30--

MEDIA CONTACT: Will Wingfield, 317-233-4675 or wwingfield@indot.in.gov

New 465/69 Northeast Lanes Open Early

Fri, 05 Nov 2010 16:45:48 -0500

New 465/69 Northeast Lanes Open Early

Keystone Avenue interchange work underway; 82nd Street bridge work to begin soon

INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) today opened new traffic lanes, ahead of schedule, for a congested portion of the 465/69 Northeast project between U.S. 31/Meridian Street and Allisonville Road. Milestone Contractors of Columbus had until Nov. 21 to widen and rebuild this section of I-465 from three to five lanes in each direction, one of which is an auxiliary lane dedicated to traffic entering and exiting the interstate. Construction on the $72 million contract began in January with replacement of the Westfield Boulevard and River Road bridges, which also opened a few days ahead of schedule.

“This first 465/69 Northeast contract not only wrapped up prior to holiday shopping at nearby malls, but opened to traffic two weeks early,” said INDOT Commissioner Michael B. Cline. “This could not have been accomplished without the innovative ‘express lane’ traffic pattern that sped construction and minimized disruption.”

Looking ahead, INDOT has awarded two new contracts for the 465/69 Northeast project – the Keystone Avenue interchange and the 82nd Street bridge over I-465. Initial construction on the Keystone Avenue interchange began yesterday, and construction could begin later this month on the 82nd Street bridge, so motorists should stay alert for overnight and weekend lane restrictions, as well as changing traffic patterns. Daytime traffic disruptions aren’t expected until spring 2011.

INDOT awarded an $18.2 million contract to Rieth-Riley Construction of Goshen to convert the I-465 interchange at Keystone Avenue into a partial cloverleaf design. Two looping ramps – northbound Keystone Avenue entering westbound I-465 and southbound Keystone Avenue entering eastbound I-465 – will be built to reduce congestion and allow more free-flow traffic movements. One lane in each direction, plus turns lanes, will be added to Keystone Avenue from just south of 96th Street to 98th Street, but no work is planned on 96th Street itself. The construction is expected to last through fall 2011.

Milestone is also the low bidder for a contract to replace the 82nd Street bridge over I-465. The new 82nd Street bridge will accommodate the future widening of I-465 underneath. Once complete, 82nd Street will remain six lanes wide, with three lanes in each direction, and will have sidewalks for pedestrian access. The $8.8 million project is expected to be complete by fall 2011.

The goal of the 465/69 Northeast project is to improve safety and increase mobility on I-465 and I-69 in northeastern Marion County. The added travel lanes and interchange improvement project includes eight miles of I-465, from just east of the U.S. 31/Meridian Street interchange to just north of Fall Creek Road, as well as more than two miles of I-69, crossing over 82nd Street and ending just south of the 96th Street interchange.

I-465 Northeast Side Traffic Shifts onto New Pavement

Fri, 06 Aug 2010 14:25:32 -0500

I-465 Northeast Side Traffic Shifts onto New Pavement

Final stage of construction begins

INDIANAPOLIS - On Sunday, Aug. 1, Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) contractors plan to shift westbound traffic onto new pavement between U.S. 31/Meridian Street and Allisonville Road. This shifted traffic pattern will allow contractors to begin the final phase of this project which will widen and rebuild all of the westbound lanes.

Both directions of I-465 will encounter narrow lanes and shoulders through the work zone, and INDOT advises drivers to stay alert for changing traffic patterns. Construction crews are required to maintain the three lanes in each direction during weekdays and major travel holidays. Short-term lane closures are permitted when traffic is lighter, such as nights and weekends. State and local police agencies will enforce a permanent 45-mile-per-hour speed limit through the duration of construction.

This $72.8 million Major Moves project widens and rebuilds approximately four miles of I-465, including six bridges, and is on schedule to open to traffic later this year.