INDIANAPOLIS — A major year-long road closure is scheduled to begin Saturday in Martinsville when five miles of State Road 37 will be shut down for construction of the final leg of Interstate 69.
Crews will begin closing State Road 37 southbound Saturday morning, and both sides are expected to close by late afternoon. The closure will stretch from State Road 39 to Morgan Street and last most of 2021, according to the Indiana Department of Transportation.
"The closure will allow crews to work faster and safer on I-69 Finish Line construction through Martinsville," a news release said. "Removing live traffic from the construction zone creates a safer environment for motorists and workers. Crews can also work faster. The full closure will allow work to be completed a full year faster than trying to maintain limited access through the work zone."
The official detour for north-south state highway traffic will follow State Road 39, State Road 67 and State Road 144. INDOT advised that people traveling long distances should avoid the construction and use alternative routes, including Interstate 65, State Road 135 and Interstate 70.
Several east-west roads will remain open in Martinsville throughout the closure to provide local access across State Road 37, INDOT said. Reuben Drive will be closed west of State Road 37 during the first phase of construction.
I-69 Finish Line is the sixth and final section of Interstate 69 from Evansville to Indianapolis. The project will upgrade existing State Road 37 to interstate standards from Martinsville to Indianapolis.
When work is complete in 2024, I-69 will run from the Canadian border at Port Sarnia, Michigan to Evansville.
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