Keystone Avenue ramp opens in Carmel - 13 WTHR Indianapolis

The new flyover ramp from US 31 southbound to Keystone Parkway is now open. The former ramp was closed on April 9 as part of the reconstruction and upgrade to the freeway-style design of the new US 31 Hamilton County.

With the new design, southbound US 31 traffic will access Keystone Parkway via a two-span flyover ramp by exiting to the right just before the 146th Street overpass. The flyover ramp carries traffic over US 31, and a second new bridge on Keystone Parkway carries drivers over the Cool Creek and Hagan-Burke Trail.

The southbound ramp closure was expected to last 90 days, according to project contractor Walsh Construction's bid. Walsh, however, was able to open the ramp about a week ahead of its schedule and about two months faster than preliminary engineering estimates.

As construction of the interchange continues, the northbound Keystone Parkway ramp to US 31 is expected to close in mid-July for approximately 80 days. An exact date for the closure will be established and publicized in the near future. The official detour for the closure is US 31.

In addition to more efficient ramp motions to and from US 31 and Keystone Parkway, the interchange upgrade will create a ramp system connecting US 31 and 146th Street. The entrance ramp from 146th Street to southbound US 31 and the southbound US 31 exit ramp to a roundabout at Range Line Road and Clay Terrace Boulevard are expected to open when US 31 traffic is shifted to new southbound pavement-shortly after the northbound Keystone Parkway closure.

The interchange construction is part of a Major Moves program to upgrade or bypass congested sections of US 31 between Indianapolis and South Bend. Upgrading the existing highway between I-465 and State Road 38 to interstate standards will be the largest and most aggressive road project ever implemented in Hamilton County. The US 31 Hamilton County project is intended to reduce congestion, improve safety and provide continuity of commerce and regional travel for a US highway that stretches from Michigan to Alabama.

For more information on US 31 Hamilton County, visit www.US31HamiltonCounty.in.gov.

(This story is a news release from INDOT.)