Martinsville – a city 30-miles southeast of Indianapolis – has already received a good dousing of the S.R. 37 into I-69 conversion project. There’s now a light at the end of the tunnel, but mercy that tunnel long.
This Saturday (1/2), S.R. 37 will close for five miles in and around Martinsville, weather permitting. It’s the next leg of the Indiana Department of Transportation’s “I-69 Finish Line” project, and it’ll create a massive amount of congestion for traffic rerouting on S.R. 144 and friends, not to mention the eradication of the main travelling corridor from Indianapolis to Bloomington. Essentially, S.R. 37 will widen, ramps will be built, and then in late November, eureka, out pops the next section of I-69, south of Indy.
Let’s take a look:
As indicated by the map, S.R. 37 will close in both directions from Old S.R. 37 to E. Morgan St., making this a five mile closure. Once the cones drop, construction is scheduled to last until November 26th, 2021.
Lots and lots of commerce on this stretch. Please try and shop locally.
Ugh. That detour makes my eyes bleed. INDOT’s posted reroute uses S.R. 39, S.R. 67, and S.R. 144. It’s about 46 miles long with a travel time of nearly an hour. So, if you commute from Bargersville to Mooresville, prepare to have company, and maybe leave early the first few days to scope out the new traffic pattern.
Soooo… When Is This All Over
The I-69 extension south of Indy isn’t scheduled to be completed until 2024. When it’s all said and done, S.R. 37 – now I-69 – will have exits at Smith Valley Rd., County Line Rd., Southport Rd., Epler Ave., and I-465. Construction on the Indy-Johnson County section is scheduled to begin sometime in the fall of this year.
Keep checking back. We promise to have the goods.
Have a very happy new year. Stay safe.
-Bair.
