I-74 Lane Shift To Go Into Effect Tuesday Evening

Tuesday, April 16, 2019 at 8:07 AM

By Mike Perleberg @mikedup84

The $61 million construction project on Interstate 74 in Franklin, Ripley and Decatur counties began in 2017 and will wrap up later this year.

I-74 construction project. File photo.

(Batesville, Ind.) - A traffic switch happens on Interstate 74 Tuesday evening.

A 2 ½-year construction project on I-74 in Ripley, Franklin and Decatur counties is entering its final phase. The $61 million resurfacing and overpass reconstruction project by state contractor Milestone began in 2017.

The Indiana Department of Transportation says all westbound traffic will be diverted to the south side of the median on I-74 near Batesville between mile marker 143 and mile marker 156. The switch will happen at around 6:00 p.m. Tuesday, weather permitting.

Both east and westbound lanes will be restricted to single lanes with concrete barriers. The single lane traffic arrangement will be in place until November 1, according to INDOT.

Motorists should use caution and slow their speeds when passing through the work zone.

The westbound rest area before Batesville was closed Monday, April 15. It will remain closed until November 1.

The nearby eastbound rest area at mile marker 153 has been permanently closed since February 2019.