Motorists should expect closures on 231 through weekend

In advance of intersection improvements at U.S. 231 and SR 240/Veterans Highway, drivers should expect temporary closures in the coming days for utility work.

Beginning Friday, INDOT will be closing sections of U.S. 231 in the area of the intersection for approximately 15 minutes at a time. Frontier Communications will be relocating its overhead lines from the east side of U.S. 231 to the west side.

It is anticipated the work will be completed by Sunday.

Frontier will be working from 300 feet north of the U.S. 231 and SR 240 intersection to approximately 1,500 feet south of this intersection.

The work is being done in advance of an intersection improvement project at the intersection of the two highways.

The intersection will be widened and resurfaced. The project includes adding a right turn lane on U.S. 231 for northbound traffic and adding a right turn lane for westbound traffic on SR 240.

All four corners of the intersection will be cut back to improve turning movements for large trucks. Sidewalks will be replaced along the east side of US 231 and new sidewalks will be installed at the southwest corner of the intersection. The existing traffic signal will be improved.

Rieth-Riley Construction Co., Indianapolis, was awarded this contract for $1,037,700

An INDOT official said the utility work Frontier is performing will pave the way for the road work to commence.

"As soon as these utilities get moved, the contractor can begin --probably in the next week to 10 days, I'd imagine," said Debbie Calder of INDOT's Crawfordsville office.

INDOT reminds drivers to use caution and consider worker safety when driving through a construction zone.