Indiana DOT to hold ribbon-cutting for I-65

Indiana’s first Major Moves 2020 project is almost finished, and officials will hold a ribbon-cutting at 1 p.m. Friday for the opening of Interstate 65.

The last paving operations ended Thursday. The ribbon cutting ceremony will be in the Johnstone Supply Co. parking lot, which is nearby I-65.

To finish the paving, the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) has announced that it will close the right lane for southbound I-65, specifically between the mile markers of 104.0 and 99.4. They will remain closed overnight, starting at 8 p.m., and ramp closures will occur intermittently until 6 a.m. Friday.

The event is a double feature, as it follow the opening for the Road Construction Awareness Corp.'s Save-A-Life campaign. The RCAC, a grass-roots coalition, includes construction works and contractors. The group was established after several deaths in work zones last year.

At the events, there will be engineers, INDOT officials, and contractors. During the ribbon cutting, construction crews will be finishing the last of the pavement operations, as paving the shoulder of I-65 does not require the crews to close lanes. By Friday night, all of the paving work is scheduled to be completed.