Drivers now have another access point to Interstate 69.
Northbound drivers are now able to go directly from State Road 37 to State Road 144, according to a weekly update from the Indiana Department of Transportation. While southbound Johnson County drivers have been able to turn directly from State Road 37 to 144, northbound drivers have had to take a detour, going as far north as County Line Road to turn around and go southbound due to construction.
The State Road 144 on-ramp to southbound State Road 37 will open by the end of the year and the southbound State Road 37 exit to State Road 144 will shift to new pavement as early as Tuesday, INDOT officials say.
Elsewhere in Johnson County, Bluff Road reopened last week with temporary pavement markings after workers realigned it near what used to be the Bluffdale Road intersection. Bridgework on the future Smith Valley Road overpass continues this week, with single-lane closures on State Road 37 southbound lanes. The work will then shift to the northbound lanes, INDOT officials say.
Just north of Johnson County, the Southport Road interchange is beginning to take shape, as a southbound State Road 37 exit ramp to Southport Road will open late this week or early next week, as will a new bridge over State Road 37. The existing State Road 37 traffic signal for Southport Road drivers east of the interchange will continue functioning for traffic direction, INDOT officials say.
Morgan County drivers will experience fewer disruptions this week. The speed limit throughout the county on I-69 increased to 55 miles per hour from Martinsville to just south of the State Road 144 interchange as all four lanes are now open, INDOT officials say.
