Interstate 265 Indiana

History

Western Terminus

Eastern Terminus

Routing

Interstate 265 provides a partial beltway around the New Albany, Indiana, metropolitan area. It acts as a conduit between Interstate 64 in the west and Interstate 65 in the east. A short spur east of Interstate 65, temporarily numbered as Indiana 265, extends the freeway to Indiana 62 near the location of the proposed East End Bridge across the Ohio River.

Future Aspirations

Interstate 265 is proposed to connect to Interstate 265 in Indiana via the East End Bridge at its northeastern end. Estimated at $1.276 billion (March 2012 figure), design and right of way work commenced in 2005 and 2006 respectively. This connector will link what is today Indiana 265 and Kentucky 841. New freeway approaches to the bridge from Kentucky 841 and Indiana 265 represent the bulk of costs.¹ The East End Bridge is a controversial project, but its importance was stressed during the September 9, 2011 to February 17, 2012 emergency shutdown of the Interstate 64 Sherman Minton Bridge due to steel support beam damage discovered during routine inspections.

In December 2006, costs were estimated for the improvements slated for Interstate 64, Interstate 65, and Interstate 265 in Louisville, collectively known as "The Ohio River Bridges Project of Kentucky and Indiana." Reaching over 60% of initial estimates, the cost for two new Ohio River Bridges and the reconstruction of the downtown "Spaghetti Junction" (Kennedy Interchange) between Interstates 64, 65, and 71 was estimated to be $3.9 billion. The March 2012 Cost and Schedule from Financial Plan Update revises those figures to $2.583 billion overall. The components of this major construction initiative are as follows:⁴

• Interstate 265 Connector/East End Bridge — Cost: $1.276 billion; Completion: 2017.
• Interstate 65 Downtown Louisville Bridge Replacement — Cost: $1.307 billion (figure includes the Kennedy Interchange and approaches); Completion: 2018.
• Interstate 64, 65, and 71: Reconstruct Kennedy Interchange — Cost: $659.8 million; completion: 2024.

Design of the overall Ohio River Bridges Project of Kentucky and Indiana project is scheduled for completion by mid-2014. Construction on both crossings should be underway in 2013. Funding issues for the overall project have prompted officials to propose tolls for the existing Kennedy Bridge, the new parallel span to it, and the East End Bridge. Kentucky and Indiana were granted approval from the U.S. government on the implementation of tolls by August 1, 2012. Rates touted are $2 for passenger vehicles, $1 for frequent commuters and $10 for tractor trailers, all collected electronically.

The high cost of reconstructing the downtown interchange piqued the interest in some residents to remove Interstate 64 from downtown Louisville (called "86" 64 or Remove 64), since one of the tenants of this plan would include elimination of the freeway west of Interstate 65 along the waterfront, thus negating the much of the required "Spaghetti Junction."³

A pair of Louisville businessmen, Tyler Allen and J.C. Stites, advanced a plan in 2005 to remove Interstate 64 along the Ohio River waterfront west of Interstate 65 and east of a point near Roy Wilkins Boulevard. The two suggest that Interstate 64 should be rerouted onto Interstate 265 across the East End Bridge once the bridge is constructed. Under their proposal, remaining sections of Interstate 64 would be renumbered as Interstate 364.^{2 3}

History

Interstate 265 opened in 1977. The Indiana 265 extension east of Interstate 65 was completed in 1995.⁵

Highway Guides

• Interstate 265 Indiana

	Western Terminus - Interstate 64 - New Albany, Indiana Perspective from Interstate 265 west This two-mile advance warning sign for the western end of Interstate 265 appears along with the guide sign for Exit 1, State Street (former U.S. 150). Photo taken by Steve Hanudel (08/19/05). Westbound Interstate 265 approaches Exit 1, State Street, followed by Exit 0, Junction Interstate 64 east to Louisville and Interstate 64 & Indiana 62 west to Evansville and St. Louis. Photo taken by Steve Hanudel (08/19/05). Beyond the State Street interchange, westbound Interstate 265 prepares to split. The left lane connects with Interstate 64 east to New Albany and the Sherman Minton Bridge across the Ohio River to Louisville, while the right lane continues west onto Interstate 64 & Indiana 62 west to Lanesville, Evansville and St. Louis. Photo taken by Steve Hanudel (08/19/05). A directional interchange handles the movements between the ending Interstate 265 and Interstate 64. U.S. 150, not signed at Exit 0, coincides with Interstate 64 west to the next exit and east into Louisville. Photo taken by Steve Hanudel (08/19/05). Perspective from Interstate 64 & U.S. 150 east Interstate 64 lowers from the Knobstone Escarpment to meet the west end of Interstate 265 (Exit 121) in one mile. Indiana 62 splits with the freeway for the bypass of New Albany and Clarksville. Photo taken by Thomas Decker (06/18/11). Interstate 265 & Indiana 62 eastbound traffic departs from the left of Interstate 64 & U.S. 150 east. Interstate 265 sees three interchange for the city of New Albany before concluding at its parent in Clarksville. Photo taken by Thomas Decker (06/18/11). Interstate 64 eastbound at the Exit 121 off-ramp to Interstate 265 east. Indiana 62 follows all of I-265 through to SR 265 west of Utica. Photo taken by Thomas Decker (06/18/11). Historical Perspective from Interstate 64 & U.S. 150 east A look at Interstate 265 signage without Indiana 62. Interstate 64 sees one final interchange in the Hoosier State at Spring Street (former SR 62) at downtown New Albany before crossing the Sherman Minton Bridge. Photo taken by Chris Patriarca (05/26/03). Next Three Interstate Junctions for Interstate 64 east Interstate 264 3 miles at west Louisville, KY Interstate 65 7 miles at downtown Louisville, KY Interstate 71 8 miles at Louisville, KY Perspective from Interstate 64/U.S. 150 west Access for Interstate 265 east (Indiana 62 east) is provided for westbound Interstate 64 & U.S. 150 motorists. This photograph looks at the nondescript half mile overhead of Exit 121. Interstate 265 arcs back to the northeast to Interstate 65 for Indianapolis traffic interests. Photo taken by Chris Patriarca (05/26/03). Interstate 64 & U.S. 150 west enter the directional interchange with Interstate 265 & Indiana 62 east (Exit 121). Indiana 62 west joins Interstate 64 westward to Exit 118 where it departs at Edwardsville. Photo taken 11/12/04. Next Three Interstate Junctions for Interstate 64 west Interstate 164 92 miles at Elberfeld, IN Interstate 57 overlap begin 167 miles at Mount Vernon, IL Interstate 57 overlap end 171 miles at Mount Vernon, IL Eastern Terminus - Interstate 65 and Indiana 265 - Jeffersonville, Indiana Perspective from Interstate 265 east Interstate 265 & Indiana 62 travel one mile east to meet Interstate 65 at a three-quarter cloverleaf interchange. A directional ramp provides the movement to Interstate 65 north to Indianapolis at Exit 6. Photo taken 11/12/04. Interstate 265 ended at Interstate 65 between 1977 and 1995, when SR 265 opened to traffic. The state road freeway links the Interstate system with the Port of Indiana Jeffersonville (formerly known as the Clark Maritime Center). Photo taken 11/12/04. All traffic to Interstate 65 leaves Interstate 265 & Indiana 62 east in unison before splitting into separate ramps for southbound to Jeffersonville and downtown Louisville and north to Seymour and Indianapolis. Photo taken 11/12/04. For additional photos from this perspective, see the Interstate 265 East highway guide. Perspective from Interstate 65 south Heading south out of Sellersburg, Interstate 65 draws to within 1.25 miles of Interstate 265 and Indiana 62-265 at the Indiana 60 (Exit 7) off-ramp. Photo taken 11/12/04. Exit 6B provides a northern bypass of Clarksville and New Albany for points west along Interstate 64 to Evansville and St. Louis. Photo taken 11/07/11. Entering the directional-cloverleaf interchange with Interstate 265 & Indiana 62 west and Indiana 62 & 265 east along I-65 south. Interstate 265 sees three interchanges for New Albany. Photo taken 11/07/11. For additional photos from this perspective, see the Interstate 65 South - Clark County highway guide. Historical Perspective from Interstate 65 north A ground level button copy sign that was posted ahead of Exit 6 along Interstate 65 south. This sign was replaced with sign bridge based signage during the 1999-2003 reconstruction of I-65. Photo taken by Jeff Royston (03/17/01). Next Three Interstate Junctions for Interstate 65 south Interstate 64/ Interstate 71 7 miles at downtown Louisville, KY Interstate 264 13 miles south of Louisville, KY Interstate 265 19 miles at south of Louisville, KY Perspective from Interstate 65 north Traveling north along Interstate 65 through the 2003-rebuilt stretch of freeway in Clarksville. Exits 6A/B with junction Interstate 265 and Indiana 62-265 follows in one mile. Photo taken by Chris and Amber Lokken (04/07/08). The right-hand lane of Interstate 65 north defaults onto Indiana 62 & 265 east beyond the Progress Way overpass to Port of Indiana Jeffersonville. Photo taken by Chris and Amber Lokken (04/07/08). Northbound Interstate 65 reaches Exit 6A to Indiana 62 & Indiana 265 east to the Port and Utica. Indiana 62 travels north from Indiana 265 as a multi-lane facility to Charlestown. Photo taken by Chris and Amber Lokken (04/07/08). Interstate 65 north at the westbound on-ramp to Interstate 265 & Indiana 62 to New Albany and Interstate 64. Photo taken by Chris and Amber Lokken (04/07/08). Historical Perspective from Interstate 65 north An older ground level sign posted for Interstate 265 west before the 1999-2003 "Revive 65" expansion project of I-65 was completed. Photo taken by Jeffrey Napier (07/02). The original Exit 6A guide sign for the eastbound beginning of Indiana 265 and Indiana 62. Indiana 265 transitions into Port Road at the end of the freeway currently, but will eventually join the East End Bridge. Photo taken by Jeffrey Napier (07/02). Next Three Interstate Junctions for Interstate 65 north Interstate 74/ Interstate 465 100 miles at south Indianapolis, IN Interstate 70 overlap begin 104 miles at downtown Indianapolis, IN Interstate 40 overlap begin 106 miles at downtown Indianapolis, IN Perspective from Indiana 265 west Indiana 62 & 165 combine at the East 10th Street interchange and continue west to meet Interstates 65 and 265 west (Exits 7A/B). Photo taken 06/05/08. Exit 7A departs Indiana 62 & 265 west at the U.S. 31 underpass for Interstate 65 north to Sellersburg, Seymour and Indianapolis. Photo taken 06/05/08. A wide loop ramp joins Interstate 65 south from the beginning Interstate 265 west through Clarksville to the Kennedy Bridge into downtown Louisville, Kentucky. Photo taken 06/05/08. For additional photos from this perspective, see the Interstate 265 West highway guide.

Sources:

1. Kentucky-Indiana Bridges
2. Plan would erase I-64 from downtown: Bridges proposal faces uphill battle by Chris Poynter, Louisville Courier-Journal, Friday, November 25, 2005.
3. Welcome to "86" Interstate 64 - site that proposes the removal (i.e., "86") of Interstate 64 from the downtown Louisville waterfront just west of Interstate 65 in front of downtown (by Tyler Allen and J.C. Stites)
4. Bridge plan cost soars to $3.9 billion: New plan: Build eastern span first, by Marcus Green, Louisville Courier-Journal, December 5, 2006.
5. Cozart, Justin.
6. "Federal government approves tolls on Kennedy, new bridges." The Courier-Journal, August 1, 2012.

Page Updated August 23, 2012.