Traffic Changes at 116th and Keystone

Traffic changes will be taking place during the daytime on Thursday, January 14th (tomorrow) in preparation for the opening of the 116th Street Bridge over Keystone Parkway. North and southbound Keystone Parkway traffic currently using the ramp and Frontage Road system at 116th Street will be moved to the permanent Keystone Parkway travel lanes under the newly constructed 116th Street bridge structure. Even after the traffic switch has taken place, exits to and from 116th Street will remain open.

Over the next week, crews will work to remove temporary pavement that was used to maintain four lanes of Keystone traffic through 116th Street. Tie-ins to the bridge structure along with safety measures will be placed prior to opening the 116th Street bridge to cross-street traffic. Weather dependant, it is anticipated that the 116th Street Bridge could open to cross-traffic as early as Wednesday, January 20th.

After working through several utility delays, the 116th Street interchange was anticipated to be open at the beginning of 2010. With the recent stretch of extremely cold temperatures coupled with snow showers, contractors have been unable to perform the necessary work to complete the traffic switch. With the current warming trend and favorable weather forecast, construction crews are hopeful that they will be able to complete all work necessary to open the interchange to traffic.

Motorists are asked to use extreme caution in this area for their safety and the safety of construction workers. Lane closures will be necessary during the traffic switch in order to complete roadway striping. A 40 mile-per-hour speed limit is in effect and will be enforced in this construction zone along with the entire Keystone Parkway corridor from 96th Street to US 31.

The 116th Street interchange is part of the second phase of a three-year project to lower the grade of Keystone Parkway under six major interchanges along the five-mile stretch. When completed, the north-south traffic on Keystone Parkway will be free-flowing with no traffic lights between 96th Street and 146th Street, and tear-drop shaped roundabout interchanges will manage the east-west traffic flow.

For more information on the project log on to www.CarmelLink.org.