I-70 East Ramp To Airport Closes Next Weekend for Bridge Project

Some travelers heading to Indianapolis International Airport next weekend will need to plan a little extra travel time for a detour.

The Indiana Department of Transportation says construction contractors plan to close the eastbound Interstate 70 and Ronald Reagan/Ameriplex Parkway ramp to Col. H. Weir Cook Memorial Drive (Indianapolis International Airport) next weekend for bridge maintenance and preservation.

Weather permitting, the ramp is scheduled to close at 9 p.m. on Friday, July 7 and open before 6 a.m. on Monday, July 10.

During the closure, posted and electronic message signs will direct eastbound exiting traffic to continue to I-465 South and State Road 67/Kentucky Avenue Exit 8. Motorists can use the interchange to return to I-465 North and I-70 West to access Col. H. Weir Cook Memorial Drive.

Access from Ameriplex Parkway will remain open to eastbound I-70, and motorists should follow the same detour to access Indianapolis International Airport from westbound I-70.

INDOT says the work is part of a $4.6 million bridge preservation contract for 15 structures along I-70 between the Ronald Reagan/Ameriplex Parkway interchange and I-465 on the west side of Indianapolis.

Eleven of the bridges are located at the I-70 and Ronald Reagan/Ameriplex Parkway interchange area, three bridges are located on Col. H. Weir Cook Memorial Drive ramps to and from the Indianapolis International Airport, and one bridge is on High School Road over I-70.

Traffic will be maintained as much as possible during the project, according to INDOT. Some bridges will remain open to traffic with overnight and weekend lane closures as work is performed one-half at a time.

Some bridges require full closures of ramps that will be scheduled during overnight hours and weekends, when traffic volumes are lower. Planned closures include:

• Eastbound I-70 and Ronald Reagan/Ameriplex Parkway ramp to Col. H. Weir Cook Memorial Drive (Indianapolis International Airport)
• Col. H. Weir Cook Memorial Drive (Indianapolis International Airport) ramp to westbound I-70
• Ronald Reagan Parkway ramp to westbound I-70
• Eastbound I-70 ramp to northbound Ronald Reagan Parkway
• Westbound I-70 ramp to southbound Ameriplex Parkway
• Eastbound I-70 ramp to southbound Ameriplex Parkway
• High School Road over I-70

INDOT says all work on the contract is expected to be complete by November.