To prepare for the arrival of pop megastar Taylor Swift, the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) has decided to start a major I-65 southbound closure earlier than planned. This closure will affect the stretch from West Street to Alabama Street near downtown Indianapolis, aiming to reduce its impact on the expected crowd of concertgoers.
Originally set to commence on October 18, the closure will now begin on October 15, a decision influenced by the predicted arrival of around 200,000 fans for Taylor Swift's sold-out Eras Tour. As reported by FOX59, this change aims to ensure that the interstate reopens in time for the events starting on November 1. While the construction would have forced motorists into downtown streets, INDOT has recognized the potential bottleneck and acted preemptively.
Several entry and exit ramps will be closed in conjunction with the main interstate closure. Affected ramps include 38th Street eastbound, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street southbound, and several ramps to and from 29th, 30th, and 21st streets, as reported by WTHR. These closures could lead to significant rerouting as drivers access the downtown area from different points.
Besides the anticipated Taylor Swift concerts, late-season weather concerns are also a factor behind the schedule adjustment. "We know Taylor Swift is coming to Indianapolis, and we are trying to get out of the way of those folks that are driving to Indianapolis for that Taylor Swift concert in November," INDOT East Central District spokesperson Kyleigh Cramer said in a statement provided by WISH-TV. The construction, including repairs on a 50-year-old bridge, is essential and couldn't coincide with the north split project due to the risk of hindering downtown traffic flow.
Recommended alternative routes include using the detour at West Street to head south to I-70 or taking I-465. Traffic coming from the east toward downtown will not be affected by the construction.