INDOT reopening I-65 north from Lebanon to Lafayette

Labor Day travelers can rejoice — the northbound bridge on I-65 over Wildcat Creek has been re opened, the state announced Sunday night in a news release.

The bridge has been closed since Aug. 7, interrupting traffic along 30 miles of the interstate between Lebanon and Lafayette. The bridge bridge had sunk several inches after workers began driving steel piles to widen the existing piers.

A detour took drivers off the freeway and through miles of state and federal highways. Delays lasted up to one hour recently, and ran as long as four hours in the first days of the closure.

The Indiana Department of Transportation had expected the bridge to reopen by mid September. The closure has disrupted a major travel and trucking route from Indianapolis to Chicago for a month.

Walsh Construction Co., completed the repairs and tested the load-tested the structure before reopening the bridge, INDOT said in the news release.

“I am grateful for the Indiana Department of Transportation’s around-the-clock efforts to reopen the interstate ahead of schedule,” Gov. Mike Pence said in the news release. “We appreciate the patience of citizens in communities that have been affected. Construction in this area and others is ongoing, and we urge motorists to be mindful as they travel our highways.”

The bridge sunk as Walsh Construction was widening and rehabilitating I-65 as part of an $82.5 million project that began in January between Ind. 38 and Ind. 25.

Construction has continued during the closure. Planned lane closures will continue at night between Ind. 38 at Exit 168 and Ind. 25 at Exit 175

While at least one lane will remain open on the interstate in those work zones, the state is using U.S. 52, Ind. 28 and U.S. 231 as alternates for drivers who wish to bypass the construction.

Temporary traffic signals at U.S. 231 and Ind. 28 in Romney and at U.S. 52 and Ind. 47 near Thorntown will remain in place at this time, the news release said.

Call Star reporter Chris Sikich at (317) 444-6036. Follow him on Twitter: @ ChrisSikich and at Facebook/chris.sikich .

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