North Split Project: Michigan Street Ramp to Reopen – WISH-TV | Indianapolis News | Indiana weather

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – The Michigan Street ramp in North Split will reopen on Monday, possibly reducing the time motorists spend commuting to downtown Indianapolis by a few minutes.

Parts of the North Split interchange had been built 50 years ago and about 214,000 motorists used it daily before. the reconstruction project started earlier this year.

“We can’t wait to get finished and the traffic flow to start moving,” said Lou Stanley, co-owner of the Blum building near the Michigan Street slipway.

“It will undoubtedly be a huge day on Monday when they open,” said Corey Babb, co-owner of the Blum Building.

The new ramp is the first part of the North Split project to be completed. Teams laid new ramp pavement and rebuilt the St. Clair Street Viaduct, one of 50 viaducts at the North Split Interchange. The new viaduct is higher.

“We’re completely on schedule right now. We’re moving forward, ”said Mallory Duncan, communications director for the Indiana Department of Transportation.

On May 15, crews closed the state’s second busiest interchange for the massive overhaul project that is expected to last until fall 2022. With the opening of the new ramp to Michigan Street, according to the INDOT, drivers can take both exits to Michigan and Ohio Streets to enter downtown.

“So if you were to go south to Ohio, you don’t have to anymore. You can come to Michigan. This can save you a few minutes of commuting. If you take the kids to school or whatever it might be a bit faster for you, ”Duncan said.

Some business owners say they are thrilled with the ramp reopening. “The new ramp will help keep traffic flowing because as Bottleworks arrives and our building opens we see a lot more traffic and the sooner we can open the more flow we can get and the better for the city. city, ”Stanley said.

“Obviously it’s been very loud, but that’s part of it. You don’t build new ramps or knock over bridges quietly, but they’re just there to do their job. They have been working around the clock since April and this will bring significant value to the city, ”Babb said.