Interstate 265 Indiana - Interstate Travel Information
Interstate 265 Indiana
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 a proposed Ohio River Bridge.
Interstate 265 is proposed to connect to Interstate 265 in Indiana via an Ohio River crossing ("East End Bridge") at its northeastern end, but it is unclear when such a connection will be completed. This connector would link what is today Indiana 265 and Kentucky 841. Design of the Ohio River bridge is underway as of early 2005, and a decision on design will be reached in 2006. New freeway approaches to the bridge from Kentucky 841 and Indiana 265 would also need to be constructed. The East End Bridge is a controversial project, but the 2005 Official Indiana Highway Map shows the Interstate 265 corridor as well as the location of the proposed bridge. For detailed information, visit the Kentucky/Indiana Bridges Official Website, which includes the proposed Interstate 265 bridge.1
In December 2006, costs were estimated for the improvements slated for Interstate 64, Interstate 65, and Interstate 265 in Louisville. Reaching over 60% of initial estimates, the cost for two new Ohio River Bridges and the reconstruction of the downtown "Spaghetti Junction" interchange between Interstates 64, 65, and 71 was estimated to be $3.9 billion. The components of this major construction initiative are as follows:4
Design of the new bridges and confirmation of this schedule of construction should be completed by early 2007. Funding is a major concern, and lack of funding could push back the construction phase. The high cost of reconstructing the downtown interchange has 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 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. As of November 2005, this plan is being discussed and debated by members of the community. It is unclear if such a dramatic shift of traffic from the downtown area would work.23
Mileage
State
Mileage
Cities
Junctions
Indiana
6.73
New Albany
Interstate 64, Interstate 65
Source: October 31, 2002 Interstate Route Log and Finders List
Interstate 265 Indiana Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT)
County
From:
To:
AADT Composite
Floyd
Exit 0/Interstate 64/U.S. 150
Exit 1/State Street
48,540
Floyd
Exit 1/State Street
Exit 3/IN 111/Grant Line Rd.
49,460
Floyd
Exit 3/IN 111/Grant Line Rd.
Exit 4/Indiana 311
43,300
Floyd/Clark
Exit 4/Indiana 311
Exit 6/Interstate 65
39,280
Clark
Exit 6/Interstate 65
Exit 9/IN 62 north/Jeffersonville
24,490
Source: Indiana Department of Transportation 2000 Annual Average Daily Traffic
Volumes Map
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. 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).
After the State Street interchange, westbound Interstate 265 prepares to split. The left lane connects to Junction Interstate 64 east to Louisville, while the right lane continues west onto Interstate 64/Indiana 62 west to Evansville and St. Louis. Photo taken by Steve Hanudel (08/19/05).
Westbound Interstate 265 reaches 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).
Close look at the Exit 0 overheads at the western terminus of Interstate 265. Indiana 62, which overlaps from the eastern terminus of Indiana 265 and along all of Interstate 265, continues in an overlapped fashion onto Interstate 64/U.S. 150 west. Indiana is one of a handful of states to utilize the Exit 0 concept. Other states include Alabama and Kentucky. Photo taken by Jeff Royston (03/17/01).
Perspective from Interstate 64/U.S. 150 east
One mile overhead for Exit 121/Interstate 265 east on Interstate 64/U.S. 150 east. Indiana 62 is omitted from Exit 121 signs even through it departs Interstate 64 at this junction. Typical for three digit Interstates in Indiana, a control city is replaced with "TO" and the connecting Interstate highway on guide signs. Photo taken by Chris Patriarca (05/26/03).
Interstate 265 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 Chris Patriarca (05/26/03).
Split of Interstate 64/U.S. 150 east with Interstate 265/Indiana 62 east at Exit 121. Interstate 64 sees one final interchange in the Hoosier State for downtown New Albany before
crossing the Sherman Minton Bridge into Louisville, Kentucky. Photo taken by Chris Patriarca (05/26/03).
Next Three Interstate Junctions for Interstate 64 east
Access for Interstate 265 east (Indiana 62 east) is provided for westbound Interstate 64/U.S. 150 motorists. This photograph looks at the non-descript one-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).
Indiana 62 emerges from obscurity in the westbound direction of Interstate 64/U.S. 150 at the eastbound beginning of Interstate 265. The state route continues westward to Exit 118 where it departs at Edwardsville. Photo taken by Chris Patriarca (05/26/03).
Next Three Interstate Junctions for Interstate 64 west
Older guide sign for Exit 6/Interstate 265/Indiana 62/265 on Interstate 65 south. As is the case with the western terminus, no control city is used for Interstate 265 west. Photo taken by Jeff Royston (03/17/01).
Due to area road construction, temporary exit signs for Interstate 265 west and Indiana 265 east are posted on Interstate 65 south. The interchange between the two freeways is a three quarter cloverleaf interchange with a directional ramp from Interstate 265 east to Interstate 65 north. Photo taken by Chris Patriarca (05/26/03).
Now within the city limits of Clarksville, Interstate 65 pushes by Exit 6B for the western beginning of Interstate 265 and Indiana 62. The Exit 6A cloverleaf for Indiana 62/265 east is situated just ahead. Indiana 62/265 continue east three miles as a freeway to their split near the Clark Maritime Centre. Photo taken by Chris Patriarca (05/26/03).
Next Three Interstate Junctions for Interstate 65 south
While passing through New Albany, northbound Interstate 65 approaches Exits 6A-B, Junction Interstate 265 and Indiana 265. Photo taken by Steve Hanudel (08/19/05).
The first exit on northbound Interstate 65 is Exit 6A, Junction Indiana 265 east to Clark Maritime Center, followed by Exit 6B, Junction Interstate 265 west to Interstate 64. Photo taken by Steve Hanudel (08/19/05).
This is the one-half mile south of Exit 6B for Interstate 265/Indiana 62 west. Unlike in the southbound direction, Interstate 265 includes the control city of New Albany. The city of 37,603 people is the county seat of Floyd County and is just three miles to the west. Photo taken by Jeffrey Napier (07/02).
Northbound Interstate 65 reaches Exit 6A, Junction Indiana 62 and Indiana 265 east to Clark Maritime Center. This will become Interstate 265 should the Ohio River Bridge northeast of Louisville is built, thus connecting Interstate 265 in Indiana with the section in Kentucky. Photo taken by Steve Hanudel (08/19/05).
Exit 6A guide sign for the eastbound beginning of Indiana 265 and Indiana 62. Indiana 265 transitions into Utica-Sellersville Road at the end of the freeway. Indiana 62 travels north of the Indiana 265 terminus as a multi-lane facility to Charlestown. Photo taken by Jeffrey Napier (07/02).
Northbound Interstate 65 reaches Exit 6B, Junction Interstate 265 and Indiana 62 west to Interstate 64. Photo taken by Steve Hanudel (08/19/05).
Next Three Interstate Junctions for Interstate 65 north
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)
