The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) will begin a six week project tonight (June 19th) on both the east and west bound sections of the Lloyd Expressway that will require restricting traffic to just one lane.

It feels like Evansville has become one massive construction zone over the past few months. With construction of the IU Medical Center downtown, to the installation of new sewer pipes in various parts of town, it feels like there's a new set of orange barrels popping up on a daily basis. I swear I have to take a new route to the station in downtown Evansville every morning.

Not that road construction, or construction in general is a bad thing. It usually means progress is being made somewhere. New businesses are coming into town, or infrastructure is being repaired or replaced (see: sewer pipes) before they become a bigger, and oftentimes, more costly issue. It's typically win-win for the community. It's just a frustrating process to get through before we get to enjoy the fruits of the labor.

According to INDOT, crews for the Lloyd Expressway project will be "grinding and sealing bridge joints," which sounds really important. I'm no engineer, but I assume if a bridge support fails, there's no scenario where that ends well.

Crews will begin work on the west bound side beginning at Wabash Avenue of Flags, and head east (against traffic) toward Highway 41, then repeat the process on the east bound side.

If there is a silver lining to this latest growth of orange barrels, it's that work will be done during the late night hours, beginning at 7:00 p.m. each night, and ending at 5:00 a.m. the following morning. Ideally, traffic during this time frame will be lighter than normal which in turn is safer for everyone involved.

Fortunately, while generally quicker, the Lloyd isn't the only means to get from one side of town to the other. Fortunately other options such as Diamond Avenue exist allowing us to avoid the area altogether. However, if you can't avoid that stretch, slow down and be mindful of crews working, they have families they'd like to get back home to just like you. Also remember, speeding through a work zone carries a higher fine, along with the possibility of jail time.

[Source: INDOT]

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