[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 157 (Monday, August 16, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50038-50039]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-20092]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration

[Docket No. FHWA-2010-0059]


Temporary Closure of I-70 (I-70/I-465 West Leg Interchange to the 
I-70/I-65 South Split Interchange) on October 7, 2010, in Indianapolis, 
IN

AGENCIES: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Final Notice.

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SUMMARY: The FHWA has approved the request from the Indiana Department 
of Transportation (INDOT) to temporarily close a segment of I-70 (from 
the I-70/I-465 west leg interchange to the I-70/I-65 south split 
interchange) on October 7, 2010, for a 12-hour period from 6 a.m. to 6 
p.m. The closure will accommodate a concentrated I-70 beautification 
project sponsored by INDOT. The approval is granted in accordance with 
the provisions of 23 CFR 658.11 which authorizes the deletion of 
segments of the federally designated routes that make up the National 
Network designated in Appendix A of 23 CFR Part 658. The FHWA published 
a Notice and Request for Comment on July 2, 2010, seeking comments from 
the general public on this request submitted by INDOT for a deletion in 
accordance with section 658.11(d). No public comments were received.

DATES: Effective Date: This Notice is effective immediately.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Michael P. Onder, Team Leader 
Truck Size and Weight and Freight Operations and Technology Team, (202) 
366-2639, Raymond W. Cuprill, Office of the Chief Counsel, (202) 366-
0791, Federal Highway Administration; 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., 
Washington, DC 20590, and Mr. Robert Tally, FHWA Division 
Administrator-Indiana, (317) 226-7476. Office hours for FHWA are from 
7:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., e.t., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Electronic Access and Filing

    You may retrieve a copy of the Notice and Request for Comment, 
comments submitted to the docket, and a copy of this Final Notice 
through the Federal eRulemaking portal at: http://www.regulations.gov. 
The Web site is available 24 hours each day, 365 days each year. 
Electronic submission and retrieval help and guidelines are available 
under the help section of the Web site.
    An electronic copy of this document may also be downloaded from 
Office of the Federal Register's home page at: http://www.archives.gov/federal_register and the Government Printing Office's Web page at: 
http://www.gpoaccess.gov.

Background

    The INDOT submitted a request to FHWA for approval of the temporary 
closure of a segment of I-70 in Indiana (from the I-70/I-465 west leg 
interchange to the I-70/I-65 south split interchange) on October 7, 
2010, for a 12-hour period from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. (The incoming request 
and supporting documents can be viewed electronically at the docket 
established for this notice at http://www.regulations.gov). This 
closure will be undertaken in support of the I-70 beautification 
project that will take place with the participation of approximately 
9,100 Lilly ``Day of Service'' volunteers. These volunteers will be 
working within five different I-70 interchanges along both sides of I-
70. Approximately 5,600 volunteers will be assigned to work on the 
north side of I-70 and approximately 3,500 workers will be assigned to 
the south side. Both groups have 1 hour appropriated for arrival and 
parking as well as 1 hour for departure from the construction corridor. 
A comprehensive plan for the arrival and departure times, parking, and 
emergency evacuation (should it be necessary) has been developed. The 
INDOT has indicated that by closing the Interstate through the work 
zone, lengthy delays caused by the restriction of lanes will be 
eliminated as well as distractions to the motoring public caused by the 
9,100 workers and associated activities. In addition, the temporary 
closure would eliminate the risk of work zone accidents in the area of 
these work zones. The INDOT believes that the best way to ensure the 
safety of the workers will be to eliminate vehicular travel through the 
corridor while the work in the interchange areas is being conducted. 
The closure also provides additional safety to the motorists by 
eliminating the distraction that could be caused by the significant 
amount of workers within the interchanges and by eliminating the need 
for traffic restrictions in the actual work zone. A 12-hour condensed 
closure provides a safer condition for workers and provides better 
conditions than a long-term construction work zone with the associated 
work zone set ups and restrictions that would otherwise take place over 
many days.
    The FHWA is responsible for enforcing the Federal regulations 
applicable to the National Network of highways that can safely and 
efficiently accommodate the large vehicles authorized by provisions of 
the Surface Transportation Assistance Act of 1982 (STAA), as amended, 
designated in accordance with 23 CFR part 658 and listed in Appendix A. 
In accordance with sec. 658.11, the FHWA may approve deletions or 
restrictions of the Interstate system or other National Network route 
based upon specified justification criteria in sec. 658.11(d)(2). 
Requests for deletions are published in the Federal Register for notice 
and comment.

Notice and Request for Comment

    The FHWA published a Notice and Request for Comment on July 2, 
2010, seeking comments from the general public on this request 
submitted by INDOT for a deletion in accordance with section 658.11(d). 
The comment period closed on August 2, 2010. No public comments were 
received.
    The FHWA sought comments on this request for temporary deletion 
from the National Network in accordance with 23 CFR 658.11(d). 
Specifically, the request is for deletion of I-70 (from the I-70/I-465 
west leg interchange to the I-70/I-65 south split interchange) from the 
National Network on October 7, beginning at 6:00 a.m., for one 
consecutive 12-hour period. The temporary closure of I-70 to general 
traffic should have a negligible impact to interstate commerce. Using a 
comparison of lane mile computations,

[[Page 50039]]

traffic will be detoured to I-465 around the south side of Indianapolis 
adding only 2 to 3 minutes additional time to Interstate travel. Re-
routed I-70 through traffic via I-465 is approximately 18 miles around 
the south side of I-465 (to get to the interchange of I-70 and I-465 on 
the east side). If I-70 were to remain open with restrictions, the 
mileage to I-70 and I-465 on the east side would be approximately 16 
miles. However, vehicles would be traveling at a reduced speed limit, 
resulting in large queue lengths creating back-ups which would add 
significant time to their commute. The detour will have a negligible 
impact on interstate commerce as the I-465 diversion route would add 
little distance or time to an interstate or long distance trip. 
Businesses requiring deliveries adjacent to the closed area will be 
encouraged to receive deliveries before or after the October 7 closure 
times in order to minimize these local impacts.
    Commercial motor vehicles will use I-465 around the south side of 
Indianapolis. During the time of closure there will be some INDOT 
construction along the detour route and along Interstate I-465 on the 
west side of Indianapolis. The detour route will have no lane 
restrictions for motorists during this time and INDOT will not plan for 
any lane closures in other nearby construction zones. The INDOT will 
increase the Hoosier Helper workforce (freeway service patrols) along 
I-465 to address incident response and minimize any incident impacts. 
The INDOT will issue a press release to inform the community of the 
closure and will post the closure in Road Restriction System (RRS) and 
INDOT's traveler information Web site Traffic Wise (http://www.trafficwise.in.gov) to help with notification to the motorists.
    The temporary closure plan has been prepared in accordance with 
INDOT's transportation plan and has been reviewed and approved by the 
city of Indianapolis and the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police 
Department. The INDOT has reached out to Federal, State, and local 
agencies to ensure a collaborative and coordinated effort to address 
the logistical challenges of the I-70 beautification project. The 
Illinois Department of Transportation and the Ohio Department of 
Transportation have been informed of this proposal. Additionally, 
efforts have been made to work with the various transit systems as well 
as the American Trucking Association. The INDOT has met with, and 
gained support from the Indiana Motor Trucking Association, and has the 
endorsement of the city of Indianapolis, specifically The Greater 
Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce and the local business districts 
adjacent to the closure. (Full list of endorsements can be viewed 
electronically at the docket established for this notice at http://www.regulations.gov).
    The INDOT has carefully evaluated all possible alternatives and 
after doing so believes the temporary closure of I-70 is the best way 
to ensure the safety not only to the volunteer workers, but also to the 
motorists. The INDOT is actively working with KIB and Lilly to develop 
an aggressive communications plan utilizing local business associations 
along the I-70 corridor, Indianapolis Downtown, Inc., and media 
outlets. Special consideration will be given to local and national 
trucking publications. Event day media staging areas and command posts 
are also included in the plan.
    The FHWA did not receive any comments in response to the Notice and 
Request for Comment. After full consideration of the INDOT request 
discussed in this Final Notice and determining that the request meets 
the requirements of 23 CFR 658.11(d), the FHWA approves the deletion as 
proposed.

    Authority:  23 U.S.C. 127, 315 and 49 U.S.C. 31111, 31112, and 
31114; 23 CFR part 658.

    Issued on: August 9, 2010.
 Victor M. Mendez,
 Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2010-20092 Filed 8-13-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-P