VIGO CO, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — Heads up, drivers. Starting in October some Interstate 70 exit ramps across Vigo County will be closed due to new safety additions.
State Road 641’s west exit ramp going south from 9 pm to 3 a.m. on Oct. 3.
The next day, Oct. 4, Darwin Road’s westbound exit ramp will be closed from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. Both areas will have camera poles installed.
The $2.9 million investment includes adding nine cameras and three dynamic message boards.
Cameras will monitor the road and alert residents and first responders of a crash. Travelers could potentially use the cameras for a live look at road conditions before starting a trip.
West Terre Haute resident, Robert Wycoff, said he favors any additional improvements for driver safety.
“I think that would be important to anybody. Think about if they get into an accident, they’d want the help as quickly as possible,” he said.
Dynamic message boards will be hung up to safely give alerts. One will be on Interstate 70 eastbound, just inside the Stateline, and one west bound near Clay/Vigo counties.
“We don’t want you on your phone driving on the interstate so it’s easier for you to look up and see “oh there’s a crash, traffic is diverting.” A lot of it is safety improvements and I think these will be welcome, ” Megan DeLucenay with the Indiana Department of Transportation, said.
InDOT officials hope the 23-mile-long project can be completed by early December.
“If you see an orange sign that means construction is ahead so pay attention. We try to distance [signs] in a way that if you miss the first reminder, you’ll get another one as you go along,” She said.
Drivers are asked to be careful as workers are on the roads.
