Brought to you by WBIW News and Network Indiana
Last updated on Thursday, November 1, 2018
(MARTINSVILLE) - Drivers who’ve spent nearly four years dealing with slow-moving, work zone traffic between Martinsville and Bloomington will soon be able to drive 70 miles per hour on the new stretch of I-69.
The Indiana Department of Transportation says construction and paving on Section 5 of the I-69 project is "substantially complete," so the 21-mile work zone speed restriction will soon no longer be necessary.
"Now we're looking forward to very soon being able to remove the work zone speed limit restrictions that encompass the entire corridor right now and put the traditional interstate speed limits in place for the corridor," said INDOT spokesperson, Scott Manning.
Sometime in the next week or so, drivers will see 45 mph speed limit signs replaced by 70 mph speed limits.
Manning cautions that while substantial completion is a major milestone, drivers will still encounter isolated slow-downs and restrictions as work crews finish work on things like drainage, guardrails, and signage.
"There may be a lane restriction in place and there will be a work zone speed restriction in place and there will be law enforcement watching," Manning said.
With Section 5 nearly complete, INDOT is now looking to the start of construction of Section 6, between Martinsville and Indianapolis. Manning says construction will start this spring on several local roads in Martinsville. That work will be focused on getting State Road 37 prepared to be transformed into I-69. Construction on the main line of Section 6 is expected to start in 2020.
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