Westbound I-465 closure snarls weekday commute on south side

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Weekday commuters in Indianapolis braced for a new traffic headache Monday as they faced a major interstate closure on the city’s south side for the first time during morning rush hour.

Westbound lanes of I-465, between I-65 and I-70, are scheduled to remain closed until 5 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 8 for bridge and pavement repairs, according to Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) officials. 

Dry weather and efficient construction could lead to an earlier reopening of westbound lanes and on-ramps, department spokesperson Scott Manning said. 

The closures will expedite repairs, according to INDOT, and cut taxpayer costs on the $10 million effort to rehabilitate four bridges along I-465. 

The first phase of the project involved similar bridge and pavement repairs on eastbound lanes of the interstate, and wrapped up two days ahead of schedule. 

“We got very lucky with a lot of dry weather,” said Manning. “So we’re hopeful that we’ll get a long stretch of dry weather… and potentially allow us to open this second phase early.” 

Drivers should notice immediate improvements in the roadway following pavement repairs, he added. 

“It will be nice to not be getting flats all the time but [the closure] is going to suck for the commute,” said Darcie Bacher, a lifelong Indianapolis resident frustrated by both potholes and excessive traffic.

Recommended detour routes include I-65 and I-70. Oversized vehicles, including hazardous materials trucks, are encouraged to use eastbound I-465 to bypass westbound closures. 

Drivers can sign up for INDOT traffic alerts and work zone updates online.