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Governor Eric J. Holcomb joined Indiana Department of Transportation Commissioner Joe McGuinness, law enforcement, and road construction industry partners today to kick off the 2019 Next Level Roads construction season. The kickoff event was held at INDOT's Office of Materials Management in Indianapolis. The office develops, inspects and tests materials used to construct and maintain highways to ensure products used are efficient and effective. INDOT is embarking on its second full year of delivering Gov. Holcomb’s Next Level Roads plan, which leverages long-term, sustainable funding to make record-setting investments in Indiana’s transportation system.

“Maintaining our leading position as the Crossroads of America is vital to growing Indiana’s economy, attracting new employers, expanding existing businesses and providing a quality of life we can be proud of,” Gov. Holcomb said. “Because of our state’s fully-funded plan, INDOT and local communities are making meaningful infrastructure investments with results that will be felt throughout Indiana for

More than 1,100 projects are scheduled for construction along INDOT routes in 2019. When combined with preventative maintenance activities, the state is investing more than $2 billion in its highway network this year. Gov. Holcomb’s Next Level Roads plan spends an estimated $10 billion on construction and maintenance of state highways over the next five years and more than $30 billion in the next 20 years. Additionally, INDOT is making available an estimated $140 million to help address winter damage for projects like repaving portions of I-465 in Indianapolis.

With construction season kicking into high gear, Indiana residents and travelers to the Crossroads of America will see an increasing number of  “Road Work Ahead” signs.

“INDOT is delivering a record number of projects in 2019 on top of many cities, towns, and counties that are also delivering more construction projects than ever before," INDOT Commissioner Joe McGuinness said. "In the short term, that means that Hoosiers will see a lot of orange barrels this year and should expect some delays. The payoff will be thousands of miles of smoother pavement and hundreds of improved bridges in all corners of Indiana."

Hoosiers are encouraged to visit www.nextlevelroads.com to use INDOT’s Google Map tool to find projects happening near them. Motorists should also check INDOT's CARS program for real time-traffic conditions and construction project updates. To report a roadway concern, call 855-INDOT4U or visit www.indot4u.com.

With the record breaking construction sites across the state, INDOT and the Indiana State Police are partnering together to remind the public about Work Zone Awareness Week. Hoosier motorists are encouraged to slow down, avoid distractions and drive with extra caution in work zones. Next month, in conjunction with a national awareness effort, Gov. Holcomb will declare April 8-12 Work Zone Awareness week to remind all drivers of their responsibility to keep work zones safe for workers and other drivers.

You can help promote work zone safety by wearing orange on Wednesday, April 10. More information on work zone safety is online at http://workzonesafety.in.gov.

About Next Level Roads
“In Indiana, the Crossroads of America is more than a motto; it’s our mission.”
– Governor Eric Holcomb

Next Level Roads is Governor Eric J. Holcomb’s initiative to elevate Indiana’s economic competitiveness and quality of life for all Hoosiers through investment in transportation infrastructure. This sustainable, data-driven plan dedicates more than $30 billion over the next 20 years to improving the conditions of existing roads and bridges – both state and local, finishing major projects, and building for the future. Next Level Roads is enhancing Indiana’s position as a leader in freight and logistics and empowering cities, towns and counties to build communities that attract jobs and talent. Learn more about Next Level Roads at in.gov/indot.

About the Indiana Department of Transportation
INDOT empowers businesses to deliver Indiana to the world and bring the world to Indiana by providing a transportation network that is second to none. The agency builds and maintains more than 28,000 lane miles of highway and 5,600 bridges, and provides oversight for 117 public aviation facilities and more than 4,000 miles of active rail lines. Indiana ranked as the #1 state in the U.S. for infrastructure in CNBC’s 2016 “Top States for Business” ranking. Learn more about INDOT at

With the arrival of warmer weather, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) is announcing the end of the frozen road declaration, and that Spring Thaw and Class II road restrictions will take effect statewide on Saturday, March 16, 2019 at 12:01 a.m.

 Class II roads include about 1,400 miles of state highways susceptible to damage from heavy trucks during the spring thaw period as frost leaves the ground. More information regarding frozen road declarations, Class II roadways, and roadway postings can be found on WisDOT’s website under “Weight Restriction Programs.”

• Declaration of Spring Thaw also means suspension of most divisible load overweight permits including permit numbers beginning with any of the following two-letter codes:  AC, AG, FF, MI, PB and RF.
  

• Non-divisible load permit restriction: The following permit types are not valid on Class II Highways during spring thaw and may not exceed posted weight on any road or bridge: AA, AP, BH, CS, CM, GG, II, MH, MP, SA, SB, SM, SS and ST. Transportation of liquid milk products under non-divisible permit type AA is also suspended.
  

County highways, town roads, city and village streets may also be posted or limited to legal load limits or less. Decisions to place or lift weight restrictions on those roads are up to local units of government. More information on overweight permits can be found on the WisDOT website by searching under “oversize overweight permits.” Haulers with specific questions can contact WisDOT’s Oversize/Overweight Permits Unit at (608) 266-7320. A recorded message with general information on road restrictions is available by calling (608) 266-8417.

NOTE: View this document online at the WisDOT Newsroom: wisconsindot.gov/news

The public is invited to attend an upcoming open house to learn about the second and final year of construction for the I-35 North Metro Split project on Tuesday, March 19. The open house will be held at the following time and location:

Tuesday, March 19, 2019

4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Columbus City Hall

16319 Kettle River Boulevard N.E., Columbus, MN 55025

Design layouts, schedule updates, traffic impacts and other information will be on display at the open house, and project staff will be available to answer questions. No formal presentation is scheduled.

Resurfacing on I-35 this year is expected to begin in late March/early April and will occur from just south of the I-35W/I-35E split in Lino Lakes to just north of Highway 97 in Columbus. Crews will also be completing the new diverging diamond interchange at Highway 97 and the new ramp from westbound Highway 8 to southbound I-35 in Forest Lake. Motorists should anticipate long-term lane closures and travel delays on I-35, I-35W and I-35E.

The I-35 North Metro Split project will provide a smoother surface and better ride quality on I-35; safety and traffic flow improvements at the Highway 97 interchange; and area drainage improvements. To learn more about the project, visit www.dot.state.mn.us/metro/projects/i35northmetrosplit. 

Fast facts:

• MDOT previously announced a currency parity policy effective April 1, 2016, for the Blue Water Bridge in Port Huron.
• The Canadian rate for eastbound traffic will be reviewed and adjusted April 1 and Oct. 1 of each year.
• The rate adjustments are rounded to the nearest $0.25 and calculated based on the prior six-month average daily exchange rates between U.S. and Canadian currencies.

March 4, 2019 -- Toll rates paid in Canadian currency (CAD) will remain the same in accordance with the Blue Water Bridge parity rate adjustment policy.

            Based on the current average daily exchange rate, the toll rates below will remain in effect through Sept. 30, 2019:

•  Passenger vehicle tolls will remain $4 (CAD) per trip.
•  Extra axles will remain $4 (CAD) per trip.
•  Trucks and buses per axle will remain $4.25 (CAD) per trip.

Visit MDOT's Mi Drive traffic information website: www.Michigan.gov/Drive            

www.twitter.com/MDOT_BWB | www.facebook.com/MichiganDOT | www.youtube.com/MichiganDOT   

The Illinois State Police (ISP) District 15 will conduct a Roadside Safety Check (RSC) in Cook County during the hours of 9 p.m. March 29, 2019, until 2 a.m., March 30, 2019. According to Commander Robert Meeder the RSC will be held on the eastbound Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90) at the River Road Toll Plaza (Plaza 19), milepost 78.5.

The ISP has zero tolerance for impaired driving in Illinois. Officers working this detail will be watchful for drivers who are operating vehicles in an unsafe manner, driving with a suspended or revoked driver’s license, transporting open alcoholic beverages or driving under the influence (DUI).

Alcohol and drug impairment is a significant factor in nearly 40 percent of all fatal motor vehicle crashes in Illinois. RSCs are designed to keep our roads safe by taking dangerous DUI offenders off the road. This project is funded through the Illinois Department of Transportation.

Keep Us Alive Drive 45 is our commitment to keep workers and motorists safe in work zones. Each year, many people are killed in construction zone accidents, both commuters and workers. Please abide the posted speed limit in work zones. When workers are present, it's 45 M.P.H. - It's The Law.

Join us in our pledge to increase awareness and promote safe driving in our work zones by displaying an orange ribbon. Together we can make our roadways a safer place to commute and work. With your help, we can see to it that a construction zone is not an end zone.