Indiana kicks off 20-year Next level Roads bridge and road improvement plan

INDOT Commissioner Joe McGuinness and Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb

Gov. Eric Holcomb and Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) Commissioner Joe McGuinness last week kicked off the state’s Next Level Roads bridge and road improvement program that will span 20 years.

“Our transportation network of roads and bridges plays a major part in Indiana’s success story both now and in the future,” Holcomb says. “With a fully-funded plan in place for the next 20 years, Hoosiers can rest assured that Indiana will remain the Crossroads of America for generations to come. I thank our lawmakers for their committed leadership to make this possible, and I commend INDOT for working hard to identify key projects so that we could be ready to roll with this five-year plan so quickly.”

Holcomb asked INDOT in May to provide a list of projects to begin and complete in the next five years. The plan INDOT developed outlines specific projects to preserve existing bridges, roads and finished current projects. It includes roughly $4.7 billion in project investments that will resurface close to 10,000 lanes miles of pavement and repair or replace about 1,300 bridges.

After the first five-year period, the Next Level Roads plan will provide another $342 million each year to support local road projects by 2024.

“This much-needed and massive investment means there will be many road construction zones, slower traffic, and orange cones and barrels in every part of our state,” says McGuinness. “I encourage Hoosiers and visitors to plan alternate routes and be mindful of work-zone safety precautions. The long-term benefits gained in safety, mobility and growth outweigh the short-term inconveniences, because the results will be reduced congestion, smooth highways, improved safety, and better roads and bridges across Indiana—for residents and visitors alike.”

More details on the Next Level Roads plan is available here.