Officials say Terre Haute bypass will open late this year

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (AP) - Indiana highway officials say a new bypass around Terre Haute that's been in the works for 13 years and beset by delays is now set to open late this year.

Indiana Department of Transportation spokeswoman Debbie Calder told the Tribune-Star (http://bit.ly/2cd2czi ) that the four-lane Indiana 641 bypass will open to traffic in December, although some finishing work will continue through June 2017.

The bypass will run about 6 miles and link Interstate 70 and U.S. 41 around the city's southeast side. It includes one improved interchange and three new interchanges, including highway speed roundabouts.

Motorists are experiencing some of the side effects of the work, such as the closure of the eastbound entrance ramp to Interstate 70 at the Indiana 46/U.S. 40 exit. That exit is scheduled to reopen Oct. 4.

Two phases of the project remain.

Phase 3 is new road construction. Walsh Construction Group is the prime contractor for the $25.2 million section, with Gradex Excavation, Midwestern Electric, Slusser Green Thumb and Wabash Valley Asphalt also working on it.

Phase 4 is on Interstate 70.

"The contractor is currently working on completing the westbound I-70 bridge structure, construction of the northbound and southbound 641 lanes, working on the westbound I-70 off ramp onto (the bypass), and other various ramps at the I-70 interchange and working on installing intersection lighting," Calder said.

Beaty Construction Inc. is the prime contractor on this $46.8 million section, with Hoosier Co., Wabash Valley Asphalt and Slusser Green Thumb also working on it.

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Information from: Tribune-Star, http://www.tribstar.com