Governor Eric J. Holcomb joined Indiana Department of Transportation Commissioner Joe McGuinness and state and local officials today in Columbus to mark the start of the 2018 Next Level Roads construction season. Officials kicked off construction for the year by breaking ground on a $143 million expansion of Interstate 65 between Columbus and Seymour.
Governor Holcomb’s Next Level Roads plan leverages long-term, sustainable funding to make record-setting investments in Indiana’s transportation system.
“Indiana is one of only a handful of states with a fully funded, long-term infrastructure plan. And, we’re putting it to good use, not just for our roads and bridges-but also to attract more job creators to move and grow in our state,” Gov. Holcomb said. “Working hand-in-hand with local communities, Indiana is taking care of what we have, finishing what we started and planning for the future.”
Officials chose to kick off the 2018 construction season in Columbus as INDOT and contractor E&B Paving begin work on a $143 million contract awarded in 2017 to add a travel lane in both directions of I-65 between S.R. 58 (Exit 64) near Columbus and U.S. 50 (Exit 50) near Seymour. The project includes replacing existing pavement along the 14 mile segment that includes the new travel lanes, repairing and resurfacing pavement on a three mile segment between S.R. 58 and S.R. 46 (Exit 68), and rehabilitating 27 bridges.
Across the state, more than 900 projects will be under construction on INDOT routes alone during 2018, representing a statewide investment of more than $1 billion. With that in mind, INDOT has developed a new user-friendly, interactive map to make it easier than ever for Hoosiers to find out which projects are planned on INDOT routes in their communities, not only in 2018, but in future years. The new Google Maps based tool also includes information on select local projects receiving federal funds and those awarded through the state’s Community Crossings program.
Check out the new Next Level Roads map online at http://nextlevelroads.indot.in.gov.
“Our new Next Level Roads map works in conjunction with our INDOT4U customer service center, and other online tools like CARS and TrafficWise to help motorists plan ahead and avoid construction delays,” INDOT Commissioner Joe McGuinness said. “Beyond that, this new tool makes it more convenient for Hoosier taxpayers to see the improvements coming to their communities, now and in the future.”