State to add lanes on some sections of I-65 from Franklin to Southport

About $200 million in state highway funding to be released this spring will be spent on improving I-65 from Franklin to Southport and in the Lafayette area, adding lanes on some stretches.

The legislature this year approved the immediate release of $200 million for highway projects as part of the Major Moves 2020 program and the spending of another $200 million contingent upon the state's December revenue forecast and approval by the State Budget Committee.

"Roads mean jobs, and Major Moves 2020 will improve Indiana's transportation infrastructure to enhance our position as the Crossroads of America," Gov. Mike Pence said, during a ceremonial signing of the road funding legislation.

Construction could begin as early as this fall on a 14.5-mile stretch of I-65 from Ind. 44, east of downtown Franklin, to Southport Road in Marion County.

Will Wingfield, spokesman for the Indiana Department of Transportation, said the four-lane highway would be expanded to six lanes (three in each direction) from Franklin to Greenwood. From Main Street in Greenwood to Southport Road, construction may include adding travel lanes or building ramp lanes, depending on where right- of- way exists.

The other project would widen four-lane I-65 in the Lafayette area to at least six lanes from Ind. 38 to Ind. 26.

INDOT decides what projects to fund based on several factors that determine areas of greatest needs, Wingfield said.

"We look at congestion, safety in terms of crash records, pavement age and condition," he said. "We also try to estimate future traffic patterns in terms of trends."

If the second $200 million in highway funding is released, three additional projects involving 19 miles of interstate will be started as early as next spring.

• Nine miles of I-69 from Ind. 37 in Fishers to Ind. 13 in Madison County.

• Three miles of I-65 from Ind. 26 to Ind. 25 in Lafayette area.

• Seven miles of I-65 from Sellersburg (Exit 9) to Memphis (Exit 16) in Clark County.

If the entire $400 million is spent within one year, the federal government and General Contractors Association estimate, the projects would support more than 9,800 jobs for Hoosiers, Wingfield said.

Call Star reporter Barb Berggoetz at (317) 444-6294. Follow her on Twitter: @barbberg.