Traffic on Ind. 37 now loops around as crews work on the interchange for section 4 of Interstate 69 at the southwest edge of Bloomington. Staff photo by David Snodgress
If you've driven on Ind. 37 from Martinsville to southern Monroe County over the past year, you've probably seen a lot of changes to the landscape. You've probably seen trees along the route being cleared and their remains turned into piles of mulch. With the trees gone in certain places, you've probably seen houses you never knew were there. Down by Rockport Road, you've seen the columns that have been put in place for an overpass. But if you think the highway looks different now, you ain't seen nothing yet.
I-69 Development Partners plans to have 21 miles of the state highway converted to interstate standards by November 2016. That means they'll have to build 38 mechanically stabilized earth walls, build or modify 28 bridges, lay 800,000 tons of asphalt and bring in 1.4 million cubic yards of dirt before voters elect a new president in 2016.
Since finalizing its contract with the Indiana Finance Authority to design, build, finance, operate and maintain Section 5 of I-69 for 35 years, I-69 Development Partners has been working to clear trees and structures from the right of way as well as relocate utilities. Now, lots of actual road construction is about to take place.
At the southern end of the project, the plan calls for That Road east of Ind. 37 to be rerouted north to Rockport Road. From there an overpass will carry Rockport and That Road traffic over the highway. Cranes were expected to start laying beams for the overpass last night. The overpass is expected to be completed by early June, said Jarod Bradfield, project manager.
Once it's done, crews will move on to build the Fullerton Pike interchange, the first of four interchanges that will have to be constructed in Section 5. When finished, it will carry traffic more than 30 feet above the highway below. To get cars up that high will require ramps and 18 feet of fill material, said John Fox, land owner relations representative with I-69 Development Partners. Like interchanges at Tapp and Sample roads, the interchange at Fullerton Pike will include roundabouts.
While the Fullerton Pike interchange is being constructed, traffic from That Road will once again be allowed to cross Ind. 37, Bradfield said. That access will only be temporary, though, as traffic will not be able to cross the interstate at That Road once I-69 is completed.
Tapp Road is where the next interchange will be located. The existing intersection of Tapp Road and Ind. 37 will be closed when the Fullerton Pike interchange is completed, which is expected before the end of the year.
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