Over the next year, a Greenwood bridge will be rebuilt, bridges on Interstate 65 will be repaved and signs across the county will be upgraded.
The Indiana Department of Transportation recently released its 18-month road construction project list, which includes at least six projects in Johnson County.
Exactly when the work will be done, how much it will cost and how it will impact traffic is still being determined and won’t be known until closer to when work begins, state department of transportation spokesperson Harry Maginity said.
Projects are prioritized based on a number of factors, including the condition of the road and the traffic level in the area, Maginity said. Adding or removing projects from the 18-month list is rare, unless there is an emergency, he said. But items can often be moved up or down depending on the need for the project, he said.
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The work is planned out through 2019, and includes projects across the county.
Some of the projects have been discussed for months or years, including adding lanes to Worthsville Road, between Averitt Road and U.S. 31, a multi-phase project the city has been working on to create a better route for east-west traffic. Also on the list, two new walking trails that have been in the works along Jefferson Street in Franklin, from Westview Drive to around the fairgrounds entrance, and along County Road 144 near Bargersville.
But other projects are on lesser traveled roads or part of routine maintenance the state schedules out.
In the spring, a bridge will be replaced on Franklin Road near Watson Road in Greenwood, closing that section of the road.
Also starting in the spring, north and southbound bridges on I-65 crossing over State Road 44 in Franklin will undergo repaving.
The work will require some closures, but exactly what hasn’t been decided. Whether the interstate will close to traffic or if certain lanes will be closed will depend on what the construction looks like when it begins, Maginity said.
State crews will also be working to improve the visibility of traffic signs along I-65, U.S. 31 and State Road 135 throughout the county. The Indiana Department of Transportation has not yet determined where the improvements will be made.
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Here is a look at some of the upcoming 2019 state road projects.
Franklin Road bridge replacement
Where: Franklin Road near Watson Road in Greenwood.
I-65 bridge deck overlay
Where: I-65 over S.R. 44 at the Franklin exit.
Worthsville Road lane addition
Where: Worthsville Road between Averitt Road and U.S. 31 in Greenwood.
Jefferson Street walking trails
Where: Jefferson Street from Westview Drive to around the entrance to the fairgrounds in Franklin.
County Road 144 walking and biking trails
Where: Near Bargersville
Traffic sign improvements
Where: I-65, U.S. 31 and State Road 135.
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