INDIANAPOLIS — Southbound Interstate 69 will return to its permanent traffic pattern Monday as part of the massive project to upgrade the I-465 interchange on the northeast side of Indianapolis, the Indiana Department of Transportation says.

The shift will restore access from the 82nd Street ramp to westbound I-465 and southbound Binford Boulevard. Several weekend closures will happen ahead of the reopening.

State officials say the $471 million Clear Path 465 project will finish this year, though crews have minor construction planned for 2027.

Construction on the project began in March 2022. Crews reconfigured interchanges and added or redid 14 overpasses. The department says the area is the second-busiest interchange in Indiana.

Jordan Yaney, a spokesperson for INDOT, said, closing multiple lanes at once significantly shortened the project’s timeline compared to a 10-to-15-year estimate for single-lane closures. “So it was kind of a give and take between letting traffic get through and getting work done safely and quickly.”

Drivers say they are ready for the project to end. Terra Talley, who drives I-69 every weekday, said the construction has disrupted her routine. “I cannot wait to cut down some commute time from home to work.”

“It’s been very inconvenient. I’ve been having to take all types of other routes,” Talley said. “I live out in Greenwood, so I travel all the way out here for work and I’ve been very inconvenienced the whole time.”

To move southbound I-69 into its permanent lanes, the department will implement several closures this weekend. Yaney said, “The biggest thing is gonna be that southbound 69 to 465 westbound is going to be closed starting at 9 p.m. on Saturday night, and that will be reopened by noon on Sunday.”

Closures and restrictions through Monday

The ramp from 82nd Street to southbound I-69 will close from 9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 18, to noon Sunday.
The ramp from southbound I-69 to southbound I-465 will be reduced to one lane from 9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 18, to 6 a.m. Saturday.
Southbound I-69 will be reduced to two lanes between 96th and 82nd streets starting at 9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19. All lanes will reopen by 6 a.m. Sunday.
The ramp from 96th Street to southbound I-69 will close at 9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19, and reopen by 6 a.m. Sunday.
The ramp from southbound I-69 to westbound I-465 will close at 9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19, and reopen by noon Sunday. Drivers should use the signed detour: Take southbound I-69 to southbound I-465 and turn around at U.S. 36/State Road 67/Pendleton Pike.
The ramp from southbound I-69 to southbound Binford Boulevard will close from 9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19, to 5 a.m. Monday.
The ramp from southbound I-69 to 82nd Street will close from 9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 19, to 5 a.m. Monday.

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INDOT said the southbound I-69 is expected to open its final configuration, restoring access to westbound I-465 and southbound Binford Boulevard from the 82nd Street ramp starting Monday.

“Any time we close something, we’re looking forward to reopening it when it’s new and improved. And that’s going to be the case here,” Jordan Yaney from INDOT said.

INDOT said the Clear Path 465 project is expected to wrap up this year with minor construction planned for 2027.

Clear Path 465 construction that began in March 2022. Between reconfiguring interchanges while redoing and adding 14 bridges, the project was no small undertaking for what INDOT says is the second busiest interchange in the state.

“If we had done one lane closure at a time, we’d be talking about a 10-to-15-year project. If we had shut it all down, and not let anybody through, we’re talking about a much shorter project, Yaney said. “So it was kind of a give and take between letting traffic get through and getting work done safely and quickly.”

With the opening in sight, drivers couldn’t be happier.

“Very excited. I cannot wait to cut down some commute time from home to work,” driver Terra Talley said.

Talley, who takes the I-69 for Monday through Friday, said the construction has been disruptive.

“It’s been very inconvenient. I’ve been having to take all types of other routes,” Talley said. “I live out in Greenwood, so I travel all the way out here for work and I’ve been very inconvenienced the whole time.”

To move southbound I-69 into its final configuration, INDOT said there will be some upcoming closures and restrictions for drivers to anticipate.

“The biggest thing is gonna be that southbound 69 to 465 westbound is going to be closed starting at 9 p.m. on Saturday night. And that will be reopened by noon on Sunday,” Yaney said.

Friday, Sept. 18 to Sunday, Sept. 20 (9 p.m. Friday to noon on Sunday)  

Ramp from 82nd Street to southbound I-69 closed  

Friday, Sept. 18 (9 p.m. to 6 a.m.)    

Ramp from southbound I-69 to southbound I-465 reduced to one lane 

Saturday, Sept. 19 (Beginning at 9 p.m.)  

Southbound I-69 reduced to two lanes between 96th Street and 82nd Street (all lanes reopen by 6 a.m. Sunday)  

Ramp from 96th Street to southbound I-69 closed (reopens by 6 a.m. Sunday)  
Ramp from southbound I-69 to westbound I-465 closed (reopens by noon Sunday)

Signed Detour: Southbound I-69 to southbound I-465 and turn around at U.S. 36. 

Saturday, Sept. 19 to Monday, Sept. 21 (9 p.m. Saturday to 5 a.m. Monday)  

Ramp from southbound I-69 to southbound Binford Boulevard closed  
Ramp from southbound I-69 to 82nd Street closed  

The new configuration for Southbound I-69 as well as full access to I-465 and Binford Boulevard from the 82nd Street ramp, are expected to be open Monday.