Lane restrictions begin Monday for I-70 pavement project

Beginning Monday, Aug. 15, an Interstate 70 pavement rehabilitation project will commence and encompass the entire length of the interstate within Putnam County.

The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) has announced that the project will run from State Road 59 in Clay County to approximately two miles east of State Road 267 (Plainfield exit) in Hendricks County.

The pavement project has been awarded to Milestone Contractors for $27.9 million.

Milestone plans to begin restricting lanes Monday so construction crews can begin rebuilding the shoulder in order to allow for lane shifts in the next phase of construction.

The left lane of eastbound I-70 will be closed on Monday between mile markers 23 and 28 and mile markers 43 and 48 (the Cloverdale exit is mile marker 41).

On Tuesday, Aug.16 the contractor will close the left lane of westbound I-70 from mile markers 68 to 63 and from mile markers 58 to 53.

Lane closures will be relocated as work progresses throughout the project.

INDOT said the project is allowed a maximum of three separate five-mile sections of construction with one lane restricted continuously in both the eastbound and westbound lanes. The minimum distance between work zones will be four miles, INDOT officials said.

The patching portion of the project is due to be completed by Nov. 22 of this year. Permanent pavement markings and grass seeding are to be finished by May 18, 2012.

In addition to covering the full length of I-70 in Putnam County, the patch and rehabilitation project will also run through Clay, Hendricks and Morgan counties.

Motorists are encouraged to seek alternate routes by using SR 59 to U.S. 40 to SR 267 or vice versa.

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