$400m North Split reconstruction project in Indianapolis nears completion

The I-65/I-70 North Split Interchange project’s final ramp from Ohio Street to College Avenue reopened on May 26.

North Split is located in Indianapolis and is the second busiest interchange in Indiana, facilitating about 214,000 motorists on a daily basis. It originally opened in 1976 and reconstruction works began in February 2021.

Reconstruction works aimed, other than replacing aging infrastructure, in increasing the interstate’s safety. More specifically, its original weave patterns, frequent merges and lane changes over a short distance had numerus crashes as a result and had to be redesigned. Characteristically, according to the Indiana Department of Transportation, 1,600 crashes occurred in the area from 2012 to 2016 alone.

Furthermore, work for the interchange’s reconstruction included the construction of 47 new bridges, as well as widening of three existing ones and the rehabilitation of another three. In addition, more than a million cubic yards of earthwork were performed, while 35 lane miles of reinforced concrete pavement were removed and replaced.

Finally, the project’s cost came to $399.5 million, and the remaining works include aesthetic improvements such as painting, landscaping and lighting.