Indiana Department of Transportation contractor E&B Paving Inc. plans to close S.R. 60 at the Salem Bypass on Tuesday, July 6, to continue construction on a $2 million roundabout project that began earlier this year.
State Road 60 is expected to remain closed through late August with an official detour route of I-65 to S.R. 56.
A design change along with weather delays have pushed the completion of Salem’s roundabout at the bypass to late August, according to Natalie Garrett, INDOT Public Relations Director, Southeast District.
Construction was halted for over a week recently while design changes were made.
Garrett said design changes were made to the splitter islands on each approach leg of the roundabout to make them mountable.
Garrett said “mountable” means that the elevation of the curb is lowered so the back wheels of trucks and other large vehicles can travel over the curb if needed.
The interior island was already designed to be mountable, she said.
The detour for the Salem Bypass will continue to follow U.S. 150 to S.R. 56.
There are several other local routes to get further down SR 60 – including Martinsburg Road and Shorts Corner Road as well as taking 160 to Henryville to I-65.
The project will upgrade the existing two-way stop intersection to a single-lane roundabout with 12-foot truck aprons, which aims to enhance safety by reducing the number and severity of crashes at this location.
The contract also includes full-depth pavement replacement, guardrail work, and intersection lighting.
The contract was awarded last fall and the new intersection is now scheduled to open in late August following design changes to the splitter islands on each leg of the roundabout.
Additional construction activity may take place later in the year with minimal interruptions to traffic.
Motorists are reminded to slow down, use extra caution, and drive distraction-free in and near work zones. All work is weather-dependent and schedules are subject to change.
