Construction snarls traffic, slows business between Indy and Carmel
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Northbound traffic on U.S. 31 backs up amid Phase 3 of Level Up 31, which runs from now through November. Photo: Justin L. Mack/Axios
If you're making the trip between Indy and Carmel anytime soon, leave early — because part of Meridian will be a mess between now and November.
Why it matters: The six-month closure is disrupting one of central Indiana's busiest commuter routes and creating new headaches for businesses that rely on passing traffic.
By the numbers: More than 100,000 cars pass through the I-465/U.S. 31 interchange onto U.S. 31 daily, making it the north side's most congested stretch even without construction.
Stunning stat: Fast-growing HamCo suburbs Carmel and Westfield have already surpassed their 2045 daily traffic projections, which is precisely why planners say the pain the project produces now is worth the payoff later.
Zoom out: Level Up 31, a $63 million state and federal effort focused on the I-465/U.S. 31 interchange where Marion and Hamilton counties meet, entered Phase 3 in mid-May.
- The entire project extends from just north of the intersection of Meridian Street and 96th Street to the U.S. 31 over-116th-Street bridges.
- It also extends approximately 4,200 feet along eastbound and westbound I-465 in Hamilton County.
- The goals are to alleviate congestion and reduce the number of serious crashes.
- Construction began last fall and is on track to finish between summer and fall 2027.
Zoom in: The following Phase 3 closures remain in place through November.
- Southbound Meridian Street between 106th and 96th streets.
- The I-465 eastbound and westbound ramps to northbound U.S. 31.
- The 106th Street exit ramp to southbound Meridian Street.
- 106th Street ramp to northbound U.S. 31.
Plus: Northbound Meridian Street between 96th Street and the I-465 interchange has been reduced to two lanes.
- The left lane will lead to U.S. 31 northbound and 106th Street, and the right lane will lead to the westbound I-465 ramp.
Between the lanes: Eastbound I-465 drivers no longer loop onto the ramp to U.S. 31 North. Instead, they turn south onto Meridian Street and follow a posted detour directing them back north.
- Westbound I-465 drivers are diverted to Meridian Street and turn north — a slightly less disruptive reroute.
State of play: While the work is causing headaches for commuters, it's hitting businesses near the construction site even harder, as it pushes traffic onto neighborhood streets — or worse, away from their front doors altogether.
What they're saying: Adel Fam, owner of Adel's Gyros in Carmel, told Axios the Level Up 31 closures have made the city's extended College Avenue roadwork outside of his shop even harder to endure.
- Fam first opened in 2011 and has survived the pandemic and a business fire along the way.
- Now he just wants to let customers know he's still open, even though he's surrounded by orange barrels and construction equipment in all directions.
- "On a normal day before construction, I had daily sales of like $2,000. I checked sales today, about $250," Fam said a few hours before closing Wednesday. "It's killing my business."
Carmel resident and Adel's Gyros regular Tom Considine said going out of the way to support the businesses you love during disruptions like this is crucial.
- Without making the effort, a lengthy change in commute can essentially remove parts of the city from our consciousness.
- "It's just so hard coming through here. This is the first time I've broken through in a while," he said. "If you have to go the other way all the time, pretty soon you can forget you can go this way at all."