Level Up 31, an interchange modification project for U.S. 31 and I-465 in Hamilton County, Ind., will create better traffic flow and enhance safety when completed next year. Work on the $87.9 million project, overseen by the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT), is more than half complete.
“The project is needed to increase capacity for drivers,” Jordan Yaney, public relations director of INDOT East Central, told Construction Equipment Guide. “The ramps from I-465 to northbound U.S. 31 will be widened from one lane to two, which will allow traffic to flow off the interstate and into Hamilton County smoothly and safely.”
The undertaking is designed to manage future estimated average daily traffic volumes of 155,000 vehicles per day. Traffic data has shown vehicles queuing at the ramps from I-465 to northbound U.S. 31. By widening both I-465 exit ramps to two lanes and reconfiguring the interchange, traffic will have an easier time exiting onto U.S. 31.
Level Up 31 includes the modification of the I-465/U.S. 31 north interchange, seven bridge deck overlays and related work on U.S. 31 from I-465 to 116th Street in Carmel. According to Yaney, the project was split into several phases to minimize the impact to traffic
“Phase 1 was designed to reconstruct and widen the ramps from I-465 to Meridian Street and 106th Street in the final permanent configuration. Phase 2 is designed to reconstruct the median of U.S. 31, removing the grass median and creating an additional northbound travel lane from 106th Street to 116th Street in Carmel.”
Phase 3 focuses on the interchange and reconstructs the I-465 to northbound U.S. 31 ramp system.
“This phase allowed INDOT to close the ramp system from I-465 to northbound U.S. 31, giving crews full access to reconstruct those alignments. In Phase 4, the ramp system reopens and northbound U.S. 31 traffic between 106th and 116th Streets will be shifted to the newly constructed median lanes, so that the outside lanes in this area can be reconstructed.”
Work on Phase 3 began in May 2026. Phases 2 and 3 are being completed concurrently. Fall 2027 is the estimated completion date for Phase 4.
As for how the I-465/U.S. 31 north interchange will be modified, said Yaney, “Traffic from Meridian Street will enter from the right side of the roadway. In the previous configuration, traffic entered from the left side.”
Phase 3 traffic impacts include closure of southbound Meridian Street between 106th Street and 96th Street, closure of 106th Street exit ramp to southbound Meridian Street, and a temporary traffic shift on I-465 ramps to U.S. 31 northbound.
The closures of northbound U.S. 31/Meridian Street ramp to 106th Street and the 106th Street ramp to northbound U.S. 31 are also necessary, with northbound Meridian Street between 96th Street and the I-465 interchange being reduced to two lanes. The left lane leads to U.S. 31 northbound and 106th Street and the right lane lead to the westbound I-465 ramp.
Rieth-Riley Construction Co. Inc. serves as the construction contractor. The design team is WSP USA, Inc.
Yaney said logistics and access to the project area present a large challenge with the contra-flow lane configuration at the interchange.
“In addition, crews are preserving as much existing infrastructure as possible.”
Current Phase 3 construction involves bridge widening eastbound I-465 to northbound U.S. 31, which includes MSE wall construction. Crews also are constructing a bridge for ramp traffic to go over the realigned Meridian Street entrance ramp, which allows access to the 106th Street exit ramp. Reconstructing Meridian Street/northbound U.S. 31 also is under way.
Phase 3 tasks already finished include the demolition of existing post-tensioned straddle bent bridge infrastructure used to carry ramp traffic over the 106th Street exit ramp. Roadway pavement and concrete railing removals and replacement work also is complete, along with eastbound I-465 to northbound U.S. 31 flyover ramp coping and concrete railing removals.
Construction remaining on this phase involves widening of the bridges from eastbound I-465 to U.S. 31, building a new bridge for ramp traffic to drive over the realigned Meridian Street entrance ramp, which also allows access to the 106th Street exit ramp, reconstructing Meridian/NB31 (interchange to 106th Street) and pavement replacement.
Highlights from phases 1 and 2 include completion of the reconstruction of the eastbound and westbound I-465 ramps to Meridian Street as well as the new exit ramp from southbound U.S. 31 to 106th Street.
An estimated 92,000 cu. yds. of dirt will be moved on the project, including 78,000 cu. yds. in Phase 3. Most of the heavy equipment on site includes excavators, bulldozers, off-road dump trucks, pavement rollers and milling machines. Structural steel girders for the bridges, MSE wall panels and backfill, asphalt and ready-mix concrete are among the main materials being used.
Yaney noted that weather has been an issue, but not to an extreme.
“The early season rain caused challenges getting started, but as we enter the summer season crews have been able to pick up their work.”
When asked by Construction Equipment Guide about project milestones, INDOT project engineer Cliff Walker said, “The biggest benchmark in this project is completion, but it's rewarding to reach the halfway point and be able to observe how the project is coming together. It's about working with a team to build a roadway that supports businesses and allows communities to thrive.
Walker added, “This is an area where more than 100,000 people are traveling daily. It's always a meaningful experience, knowing that we can make someone's daily commute a bit easier.”
