[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 126 (Monday, July 1, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39436-39437]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-15655]



[[Page 39436]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration

[Docket No. FHWA-2013-0036]


Temporary Closure of I-65 (I-70/I-65 South Split Interchange to 
I-70/I-65 North Split Interchange) in the City of Indianapolis

    AGENCIES: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice and Request for Comment.

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SUMMARY: The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) has requested 
FHWA approval of INDOT's proposed plan to close a 2-mile portion of I-
65 in Indiana (from I-70/I-65 south split interchange to I-70/I-65 
north split interchange) for a period of 93 days, from Wednesday, 
August 21, 2013, to Thursday, November 21, 2013. The closure is 
requested to accommodate the reconstruction on the Virginia Avenue 
Bridge, which consists of replacing the northbound and southbound 
bridge girders and lowering the pavement section from south of Morris 
Street to north of Fletcher Avenue. The request is based on the 
provisions in 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 upon approval by the FHWA.
    The FHWA seeks comments from the general public on this request 
submitted by INDOT for a deletion in accordance with 23 CFR 658.11(d) 
for the considerations discussed in this notice.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before 30 days after date of 
publication in the Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: The letter of request along with justifications can be 
viewed electronically at the docket established for this notice at 
http://www.regulations.gov. Hard copies of the documents will also be 
available for viewing at the DOT address listed below.
    Mail or hand deliver comments to the U.S. Department of 
Transportation, Dockets Management Facility, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590, or fax comments to (202) 493-
2251. Alternatively, comments may be submitted via the Federal 
eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov (follow the on-line 
instructions for submitting comments). All comments should include the 
docket number that appears in the heading of this document. All 
comments received will be available for examination and copying at the 
above address from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., e.t., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays. Those desiring notification of receipt of 
comments must include a self-addressed, stamped postcard or you may 
print the acknowledgment page that appears after submitting comments 
electronically. All comments received into any docket may be searched 
in electronic format by the name of the individual submitting the 
comment (or signing the comment, if submitted on behalf of an 
association, business, labor union, etc.). Persons making comments may 
review DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register 
published on April 11, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 70, Pages 19477-78), or 
you may view the statement at http://www.regulations.gov .

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Crystal Jones, Office of Freight 
Management and Operations, Office of Operations, (202) 366-2976, Mr. 
Bill Winne, Office of the Chief Counsel, (202) 366-0791, Federal 
Highway Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 
20590, and Mr Richard Marquis, FHWA Division Administrator-Indiana 
Division, (317) 226-7483. Office hours for the FHWA are from 8:00 a.m. 
to 4:30 p.m., e.t., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Electronic Access and Filing

    You may submit or retrieve comments online through the Federal 
eRulemaking portal at: http://www.regulations.gov. The Web site is 
available 24 hours each day of the 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 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, as amended, 
designated in accordance with 23 CFR part 658 and listed in Appendix A. 
In accordance with 23 CFR 658.11, the FHWA may approve deletions or 
restrictions of the Interstate System or other National Network routes 
based upon specified justification criteria in 23 CFR 658.11(d)(2). 
These deletions are then published in the Federal Register for notice 
and comment.
    The INDOT has submitted a request to FHWA for approval of the 
temporary closure of a segment of I-65, from the I-70/I-65 south split 
interchange to the I-70/I-65 north split interchange, for a period of 
93 days, from the period beginning Wednesday, August 21, 2013, through 
Thursday, November 21, 2013. The incoming request and supporting 
documents, including maps, may be viewed electronically at the docket 
established for this notice at http://www.regulations.gov.
    Along its length, I-65 through Indianapolis, Indiana, passes under 
several bridges, many with limited vertical clearance. The bridges at 
Virginia Avenue, Fletcher Avenue, Calvary Street, and Morris Street 
have vertical clearances ranging from 13' 11'', to 14' 6''. This 
project will increase vertical clearances to a minimum 14' 9'' at each 
of these locations.
    For the duration of the requested temporary closure, eastbound and 
westbound I-70 traffic will be detoured to I-465, around the south side 
of Indianapolis. Northbound and southbound I-65 traffic will be 
detoured to I-465. The INDOT states that the temporary closure of this 
segment of I-65 to general traffic should have negligible impact to 
interstate commerce.
    Commercial motor vehicles of the dimensions and configurations 
described in 23 CFR 658.13 and 658.15 serving the impacted area may use 
the alternate routes listed above. Vehicles servicing the businesses 
bordering the impacted area will still be able to do so by also using 
the alternative routes noted above to circulate around the restricted 
area. In addition, vehicles not serving businesses in the restricted 
area but, currently using I-65 and the local street system to reach 
their ultimate destinations, will be able to use I-465 to access the 
alternative routes. A map depicting the alternative routes is available 
electronically at the docket established for this notice at http://www.regulations.gov. The INDOT has reviewed these alternative routes 
and determined the routes to generally be capable of safely 
accommodating the diverted traffic during the period of temporary 
closure.
    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

[[Page 39437]]

Road Restriction System. The INDOT traveler information Web site 
Traffic Wise will be utilized, as well as the 511 phone system. The 
INDOT will issue a formal press release upon notification that the 
request for closure has been approved.
    The INDOT has reached out to Federal, State, and local agencies to 
ensure a collaborative and coordinated effort to address the logistical 
challenges of reconstructing this section of I-65. The Illinois 
Department of Transportation and the Ohio Department of Transportation 
will be 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 notified the Indiana Motor Trucking 
Association of this plan to temporarily close I-65, and has agreed to 
work with them to provide information targeted at the trucking 
industry.
    This request to close I-65 to general traffic on or around August 
21, 2013, was prepared for the INDOT in accordance with the 
Indianapolis Metropolitan Planning Organization's Transportation Plan. 
The INDOT's proposal has been approved by the city of Indianapolis 
Department of Public Works and INDOT will coordinate the closure with 
the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department.
    The FHWA seeks comments on this request for temporary deletion from 
the National Network for considerations in accordance with 23 CFR 
658.11(d).

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

    Issued on: June 20, 2013.
Victor M. Mendez,
Federal Highway Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2013-15655 Filed 6-28-13; 8:45 am]
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