Huge concrete pieces intended to be used in a $600 million expansion project at Lehigh Hanson in Mitchell will pass through Salem in the early morning hours — the first of 80 loads over 18 feet high.
According to Natalie Garrett, Indiana Department of Transportation Public Relations Director of the Southeast District, the oversized load will come through early Friday morning.
“The last information I saw stated early tomorrow morning (Friday, July 18) between the hours of midnight and 6:30 a.m,” she confirmed Thursday afternoon.
A superload convoy will be traveling from the port at Jeffersonville to Lehigh in Mitchell and should be escorted by law enforcement.
These are scheduled to continue throughout the summer – up to 80 loads.
Garrett said this is why sign and signal adjustments were done along the specified route earlier this spring.
INDOT workers continued to raise utility lines on Salem’s westside this week.
The route follows SR 265 to I-65 at Exit 7 to SR 60 to US 31 at Scottsburg to SR 56 to 60 in Mitchell.
The project at Lehigh includes the addition of a $600 million building which will include a new production line that will be more efficient with a best in class environmental footprint, according to Lehigh Plant Manager Tracy Crowther.
The new plant will allow for a substantial increase in production capacity while significantly reducing energy usage, fuel consumption, and emissions per ton of cement produced through modern equipment and the latest in cement production technology.
The project will bring approximately 1,000 construction jobs into the area during its span, spurring economic growth for the city of Mitchell and surrounding communities. When complete, it is anticipated that the plant will create around 50 new full-time jobs while providing additional technical training and growth opportunities for employees.
Altogether, the new Mitchell plant will sustainably provide much-needed cement to serve this growing and dynamic region for many decades.
Lehigh Hanson broke ground on the construction of a new state-of-the-art plant, which will replace the existing Lehigh Cement Company facility.
A mix of traffic restrictions were put in place back in April as crews begin raising traffic signals and moving overhead signs to avoid contact with the loads.
The route will begin at the Port of Indiana and follow S.R. 265 to I-65 at Exit 7 (Hamburg/Salem) to S.R. 60 to U.S. 31 to S.R. 56 at Scottsburg, and ending on S.R. 60 in Mitchell.
A total of 18 signals were raised and will require various lane closures and flagging of intersections while signals are offline.
Shoulder closures will be necessary for overhead sign work mainly along S.R. 265 in Clark County.
In addition, overnight rolling slow-downs will take place on S.R. 265 during removal of overhead sign truss structures and lifting the dynamic message board between S.R. 62 and I-65.
Motorists may encounter oversize loads along the same route Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
The larger super loads will be moved in small convoys during the overnight hours, from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., Sunday through Thursday, beginning in early summer.
Law enforcement will help control traffic and guide the loads along the specified route.
Drivers are reminded to slow down, use extra caution, and drive distraction-free in and near all work zones. All work is weather-dependent and schedules are subject to change.
