MORGAN COUNTY — State Road 37 is now closed in Martinsville to allow faster and safer construction of the new Interstate 69 between State Road 39 and Morgan Street.
The Indiana Department of Transportation on Monday said the official detour route follows State Road 39, State Road 67, and State Road 144. Long-distance traffic is encouraged to use alternate routes including Interstate 65, State Road 135 and Interstate 70.
State transportation officials said several east-west roads will remain open throughout the closure to provide local access across State Road 37. Local traffic in Morgan County is encouraged to make hands-free use of mapping apps that include real-time traffic.
Starting on or after Wednesday, I-69 contractors will use lane striping and orange barrels to reduce State Road 37 northbound to one lane north of the closure. Crews will be working around the clock and moving north to State Road 144 in Johnson County.
Temporary concrete barriers will then be installed along nearly 12 miles of State Road 37 before both directions are shifted to the northbound lanes of the highway, which is anticipated by late January. The restrictions will allow crews to build the new southbound lanes for this section of I-69.
INDOT also said there will be changes for local access points to State Road 37 as the restrictions progress north. Martinsville Golf Club will use a temporary driveway that connects with Morgan Street near Prince of Peace Lutheran Church.
Myra Lane west of State Road 37 can use the new overpass connecting Old SR 37 with Egbert Road and the temporary State Road 37 traffic signal at Henderson Ford Road.
During the first phase of construction, Teeters Road and Myra Lane east of State Road 37 will be right-in, right-out intersections.
Throughout 2021, three local roads between State Road 144 and the Martinsville closure will maintain full access to State Road 37 — Banta Road, Henderson Ford Road and Morgan Street.
