Construction on 109th Avenue, I-65 wrapping up

Motorists will have to wait until early to mid-December for work on the 109th Avenue corridor by three different entities — Indiana Department of Transportation, the town of Winfield and the city of Crown Point — to wind down.

Cassy Bajek, public relations director for INDOT’s Northwest District, said the 109th Avenue and Interstate 65 interchange should be open in mid-December.

“Very little work is being done on the ramps themselves,” Bajek wrote in an email. The ramps are being connected to the work occurring on 109th to widen the roadway and construct the two roundabouts that will create the “dog bone.”

A majority of the work has been accomplished at this time to so they are mainly working on finishing any pavement work and road marking items; rip rap, landscaping and drainage; and then inspection of the work before the road can reopen.

In a separate INDOT paving project on I-65 at 109th Avenue not related to the ongoing work, the right lane of northbound I-65 will be closed over 109th Avenue beginning about 7 p.m. Friday through about 5 a.m. Tuesday. During the overnight hours Saturday through Tuesday the center lane also will be closed.

The closures will be in place for pavement repair. The schedule is weather dependent and subject to change.

Crown Point anticipates wrapping up the final leg of the 109th Avenue Transportation & Safety Improvement project by the first week of December, which will mean 109th Avenue will be open from the interchange west to Broadway, according to Mary Freda, communications/media manager for the city.

“The work done on 109th Avenue by various agencies totals roughly $20 million. Of the $20 million, the city paid about $2 million for the improvements,” Freda wrote in an email.

The work on 109th Avenue started six years ago when the city applied for funds through the Transportation Improvement Program through NIRPC. Environmental work, engineering, design, letting and construction have been completed. The work completed includes all infrastructure, upsizing of utilities, the installation of lighting, trail and sidewalk installation and more.

All infrastructure above and below ground within city limits from Broadway to Iowa Street has been installed, Freda said.

“We expect to see additional development along the corridor following the completion of this project. As development continues, we expect to see additional connectivity in the corridor,” she said.

Nick Bellar, Winfield town administrator, said the town has two projects taking place on 109th Avenue this construction season. Reconstruction of the intersection of 109th Avenue and Grand Boulevard is underway.

The project removes the hills from 109th Avenue, greatly improving the sight distance, as well as installs dedicated eastbound and westbound turn lanes onto Grand Boulevard from 109th and the shoulders, Bellar said in an email.

“We are adding dedicated eastbound and westbound turn lanes off of Grand Boulevard onto 109th Avenue,” Bellar said, adding there are several drainage improvements associated with the reconstructions as well.

The town also is installing a passing blister on the south side of 109th Avenue at the intersection with Arizona Street.

Work on both projects is expected to be complete the first part of December.