When discussions were hot and heavy over what to do about the traffic congestion along I-69 in Fishers during rush hours, and how that impacts State Road 37 traffic, there was an elephant in the room few would mention.  The traffic bottlenecks during rush hours in Fishers are partly due to the lack of a good interchange in I-465 and I-69 in Indy.

Based on an announcement from the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT), improvements will be coming to the I-69 & I-465 traffic connection.

According to the INDOT news release, here’s what the project will entail:

• Building a high-speed, two-lane ramp for traffic exiting I-465 eastbound onto I-69 northbound. The new ramp would bridge over Binford Boulevard and I-465, while the existing low-speed loop ramp would remain for I-465 eastbound traffic exiting I-69 onto 82nd Street in Castleton.
• Widening I-465 to four travel lanes in each direction between the White River bridge and I-69. In addition, two ramp lanes in each direction would run continuously between the I-69, Allisonville Road and Keystone Avenue interchanges for traffic entering and exiting the interstate

As with most infrastructure plans like this, it will take some time.   INDOT says preliminary design of the project should be done in 2016, with construction anticipated to begin in 2020.

Govenor Mike Pence is quoted in the news release as touting this project, along with others in the pipeline, as a way to ease congestion in the northeastern suburban areas of Indy.

“Building this interchange will increase capacity and improve traffic flow. This project, along with recent and planned projects to widen I-69, a scheduled interchange at 106th Street, and the modernization of State Road 37 in Fishers, will dramatically improve the ability of people and commerce to move efficiently in Central Indiana,” Pence said.

The plans carry a $50 million price tag.