INDOT to charge contractor $6k for restricting traffic on I-69

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – After a huge 10 mile backup on I-69 SB Tuesday morning, INDOT is charging their sub-contractor $6,000 in damages.

According to INDOT spokesman Nathan Riggs, in their contract, traffic can be restricted from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.

After that time period, INDOT is able to assess damages and charge the contractor $3,000 for every hour they extend those traffic lane restrictions.

Tuesday morning, the lanes were restricted until just before 8 a.m., meaning INDOT is seeking $6,000 in damages from the sub-contractor.

Riggs said INDOT would not seek damages if the situation was outside the contractor’s control, but in this instance, INDOT believes the lanes were restricted longer due to poor planning.

“What they (contractors) planned that night was probably too aggressive,” Riggs said. “They needed to finish what they started before they could open all the lanes to traffic.”

This week, contractors are restricting multiple lanes overnight to complete construction. They are moving the traffic lanes over a couple feet to the left every day.

“Once they remove the traffic lines, they can’t open up the traffic lanes until they replace those lines,” Riggs said.

The lines weren’t fully replaced until around 8 a.m. causing the major backup between 106th Street and 116th Street.