Washington Street Closures and Clear Path 465 Ramps Highlight Friday Morning Commute

Commute Alert: Major Arteries and Transit Detours for Friday, March 6

As we head into the first Friday of March, commuters in Indianapolis should prepare for significant travel adjustments, particularly on the city’s west and northeast sides. Major infrastructure projects, including the Blue Line rapid transit expansion and the nearing completion of the Clear Path 465 project, are currently impacting several high-traffic corridors.

West Washington Street Disruptions

The most significant impact for morning commuters today remains the ongoing closures along West Washington Street. As part of the Blue Line construction, the segment between Belmont Avenue and Harding Street is currently closed to westbound through traffic for storm sewer installation. While one eastbound lane remains open for local access, all other drivers are being detoured south to I-70. Additionally, a second major closure is in effect between Southeastern and State avenues, where eastbound traffic is redirected via Southeastern Avenue.

Pedestrians should note that while full accessibility was tentatively scheduled to return this month, construction zones remain active. Commuters using IndyGo Route 8 should expect continued detours using Michigan Street and North White River Parkway to bypass the work zones.

Northeast Side: Clear Path 465 Updates

On the northeast side, the Clear Path 465 project is entering its final major phases. While mainline I-465 is expected to see significant relief this spring, several long-term ramp closures are still in effect today. Drivers should plan for extra time if their route includes the following restricted points:

• The ramp from 56th Street to northbound I-465 remains closed.
• The ramp from Allisonville Road to eastbound I-465 is unavailable.
• Northbound Binford Boulevard to westbound I-465 traffic is diverted.

Looking ahead to late-night travel, INDOT has scheduled an overnight closure for the ramp from eastbound I-465 to northbound I-69 starting just before midnight on Saturday. If you are planning a late-night return from downtown or the north side on Friday evening, be mindful that barrier wall repairs and lighting work may begin to restrict lanes as early as 9:00 PM.

Local Roadworks and Public Works Projects

In the Fountain Square area, DPW is continuing a massive drainage project that may cause intermittent lane flagging near the intersections of Virginia Avenue and Shelby Street. Additionally, motorists using 29th and 30th Streets should remain alert for crews finalizing the two-way conversion transitions. With the morning temperature hovering near the freezing mark, DPW crews are also prioritizing pothole repairs on Capitol Avenue and surrounding downtown streets to prevent further pavement degradation during the spring thaw.

We recommend all commuters allow an additional 15 to 20 minutes for cross-town travel this morning. Use I-70 or I-65 as alternatives to Washington Street whenever possible to avoid the most concentrated delays.