Project to widen U.S. 231 to start in spring 2022

Monday, March 29, 2021
A project set for construction in 2022 would take widen U.S. 231 to four lanes, with a dedicated left turn lane, to County Road 800 South, the entrance to the now mothballed POET Biorefining plant.
Banner Graphic/BRAND SELVIA

CLOVERDALE — A highway project that would expand U.S. 231 to two lanes in each direction north of Cloverdale is scheduled for Indiana Department of Transportation bid letting later this year.

The proposed widening of U.S. 231 north of Interstate 70 has been discussed since even before the now-mothballed POET ethanol plant went in on County Road 800 South, west of U.S. 231.

Truck traffic from the nearly asphalt plant and quarry impact the intersection as well as grain-hauling trucks contributing to traffic and safety issues.

The estimated $3.6 million project is currently scheduled for bid opening on Dec. 8 of this year, according to Debbie Calder, communications director for the INDOT Crawfordsville District.

A spring 2022 construction start is anticipated.

The project will consist of two lanes in each direction from north of I-70 to just south of County Road 800. There will also be dedicated left-turn lanes at all major intersections.

A raised concrete median on U.S. 231 will be constructed for the entire length of the project.

Upon the intersection reconstruction of CR 800 and U.S. 231, the grades will be adjusted to reduce the slope of CR 800. There will still only be one lane in each direction along CR 800.

Even though CR 800 is a local road, Calder said, turning movement will be provided to accommodate the Indiana Design Vehicle due to the high truck traffic at the intersection.

Just south of the intersection, pavement markings will merge the outside lane into the inside lane. The outside lane will then be marked as a dedicated right lane for the CR 800 eastbound turning movement. Approximately 500 feet north of the intersection, the outside lane will begin to taper into a one northbound lane. This will provide an acceleration lane for the westbound to northbound movement.

A pavement design will be performed to determine if the asphalt needs full depth replacement or if the existing pavement can remain in place.

The project will require 2.59 acres of permanent right-of-way and approximately 0.7 acres of temporary right-of-way at the site, according to a recent legal notice about the project.

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  • I dont get it?!?! Why spend $3.6 million on about 1/4 mile of road. Everything seems ok the way it is! Spend the money on 231 going through Greencastle!

    -- Posted by localjoe on Mon, Apr 5, 2021, at 3:33 PM
  • Localjoe: you are absolutely right. This is a huge waste of money. It's actually about 3/4 mile but the statement "there will also be dedicated left-turn lanes at all major intersections" is what gets me. There are no road intersections there, only a couple driveways! Meaanwhile, 231 through Greencastle is a disaster.

    -- Posted by Ben Dover on Mon, Apr 5, 2021, at 8:26 PM
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