INDIANAPOLIS (WTHR) – Police officers directed traffic and operated traffic signals at several downtown intersections near Interstate 65 during the Monday morning and afternoon rush hours.
Drivers tried to figure out the best way home from work during the month-long closure of I-65 between Meridian and 21st Streets.
"Traffic was flowing pretty smoothly given the closure,” said Indiana Department of Transportation spokesman Scott Manning after the initial work day morning commute following the weekend interstate closing. “Didn't see that there were a lot of delays experienced. Didn't see a lot of crashes that created problems. Didn't seem to be a lot of confusion, so we take that as a good sign that folks heeded advice, planned ahead and left a little bit early this morning. We hope that will be a trend that continues during the closure."
With the interstate shut down, construction workers will be refurbishing bridges as quickly as possible.
The project is scheduled to be completed by August 5th. Keeping Interstate 65 open during the project with lane restrictions would have taken up to nine months.
Traffic coming into downtown from the northside is forced off Interstate 65 at 21st Street.
“This is where I have to get off,” said one box truck driver who was aware of the closure. “It's going to be a hassle, but today it's moving pretty quick."
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"I forgot all about it,” said another man at the end of the exit ramp. “I noticed all the signs because I'm a truck driver. But I was out town yesterday and I totally spaced about this being closed."
"I'm on my way back to Texas, so this is a little detour,” said a young military man. “I just got out of boot camp two days ago and I'm not really used to this detour.”
"This is where I'm going to get off apparently,” said an older man at the stoplight. “I don't ever come downtown. This is my first time downtown in a month or so. I didn't get to go where I wanted to, but I'll get there."
IU Health Methodist Hospital sits right off Interstate 65 near the 21st Street exit.
"We've been preparing and trying to get here earlier and leaving for work early today to make sure that we don't run into a ton of traffic,” said emergency room Dr. Roma Patel. “But so far it's been ok."
Traffic on 16th Street and Senate Avenue near the emergency entrance seemed heavier than usual Monday with more semi-trucks passing through among the ambulances coming and going at the hospital.
"The important thing to know is that we're still open,” said Dr. Patel. “There are local roads that get you here."
Some hospital employees are working flex schedules to avoid the heaviest traffic times. The hospital is also prepared to help patients coming to the hospital find alternate routes.
Interstate 65 south is also closed on the northwest side on Indianapolis. All traffic is forced onto I-465 south at the split. Keep that in mind if you're coming downtown from that direction for the July 4th fireworks.
INDOT personnel and IMPD will continue to operate traffic signals to help traffic flow during the weekday downtown commutes.
"We think based on this first test this morning that manually controlling those signals, especially in those heavily congested corridors, has made a good difference,” said Manning.
After this holiday week with many downtown workers taking time off, the real traffic fireworks may come next Monday.
“We'll probably figure it out just in time for it to reopen,” said Dr. Patel with a chuckle.