I-69 Finish Line: Last stretch of Morgan Street extension to open in July or August

The Independence Day holiday is quickly approaching and crews along the I-69 Finish Line are working in all three counties along the stretch of future interstate.

According to the project's weekly update, the final bridge deck in Morgan County was expected to be poured on Tuesday, July 28, at Myra Lane.

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The state continues to list the project at nearly 50% complete throughout the entire corridor, and nearly 80% finished in Morgan County.

Once complete, there will be 26 new miles of interstate in Morgan, Johnson and Marion counties.

The new I-69 is expected to open by the end of 2024.

Below is a list of work expected to take place along the I-69 Finish Line corridor in the coming weeks.

Morgan County

The final stretch of the Morgan Street extension near Country Club Road is expected to open in either late July or early August.

"Work begins this week to build driveways for Prince of Peace Lutheran Church where the new and old roads connect north of Martinsville," INDOT said in its update. 

The state also asks motorists to watch for lane closures along I-69 in Martinsville so that crews can apply permanent pavement markings.

Johnson County

Up in Johnson County, cranes are expected to lift concrete beams for the future I-69 bridge over Honey Creek this week.

"Slow down and move over for a southbound (State Road) 37 lane closure from Fairview Road to Smith Valley Road," INDOT noted.

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County Road 144 east of State Road 37 in Johnson County was recently closed, as was SMith Valley Road west of the highway.

"The new western access roads of Bluffdale Drive and Old (State Road) 37 connect with (State Road) 37 at Fairview Road to the north and (State Road) 144 at Huggin Hollow Road to the south," INDOT noted in its update.

The state also notes that crews are using the State Road 37 and County Road 144 and Smith Valley Road intersections in Johnson County to turn around.

"Drivers should not follow work trucks into left-turn lanes that are closed and signed 'Construction Traffic Only,'" INDOT noted.

Flaggers are also expected to work along Mullinix Road south of Smith Valley Road for waterline work.

Marion County

INDOT noted that crews are working to pour concrete either later this week or early next week for the Southport Road Bridge.

"The work is not expected to affect State Road 37 traffic," INDOT wrote in its update.

Motorists can also expect to see more construction work along Epler Avenue west of State Road 37 now that utility crews of completed their work in the area.

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"Epler Avenue is expected to close in mid-July through the end of the year," INDOT noted. "Concord Street and Banta Road will serve as the detour."

According to INDOT, there were several motor-vehicle crashes along westbound lanes of I-465 that had an impact on traffic several times last week between State Road 37 and Harding Street and the White River.

"Drivers are urged to slow down and drive defensively in the area," INDOT wrote.

Regular updates on the I-69 Finish Line project can be found online at i69finishline.com.

The state also regularly updates its social media platforms, like Facebook and Twitter, for the project at @I69FinishLine.

Contact Reporter-Times, Times-Mail and Spencer Evening World editor Lance Gideon at lgideon@reporter-times.com or 765-342-1543. Follow him on Twitter: @LanceOGideon.