Interstate 865 Indiana - Interstate Travel Information
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Interstate 865 Indiana

Routing

Interstate 865 is a short connector route between Interstate 65 and Interstate 465 northwest of Indianapolis, known locally as "the dogleg." This freeway provides a connection from Interstate 65 southbound to Interstate 465 eastbound and from Interstate 465 westbound to Interstate 65 northbound. The route was christened to alleviate confusion given to the overall dogleg to the Interstate 465 beltway.

History

Signage for Interstate 865 was installed by May 2002. Approval from AASHTO came later. On November 5, 2002, the Route Numbering subcommittee of AASHTO approved the creation of Interstate 865 between Interstate 65 and Interstate 465 north of Traders Point.

Planned Improvements

There are no interchanges on Interstate 865 itself presently. However, there has been talk about adding an interchange at Copper Road.
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Mileage

State Mileage Cities Junctions
Indiana 4.7 Indianapolis Interstate 65, Interstate 465
Source: The Indianapolis Star - "I-465 'ramp' renamed I-865"

Interstate 865 Indiana Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT)

County From: To: AADT Composite
Boone/Marion Interstate 65 Interstate 465 22,080
Source: Indiana Department of Transportation 2000 Annual Average Daily Traffic Volumes Map

Western Terminus - Interstate 65 - Royalton, Indiana
Perspective from Interstate 865/U.S. 52 west
Just before mile-post 1.0, left ends lane signage. The two lane Interstate 865 merges into a single lane before dumping into Interstate 65 northbound. Behind the sign on the right you can see Indiana's typical Interstate speed limit assembly (Trucks over 13 Tons Gross Weight are 60 MPH). There are no guide signs posted for Interstate 65 on Interstate 865 westbound. Photo taken by Brian Dowd (11/29/02).
Milepost 1 on westbound Interstate 865 as the freeway prepares to transition onto northbound Interstate 65 (and westbound U.S. 52). Photo taken by AARoads (10/16/04).
Westbound transition from Interstate 865 to Interstate 65 northbound. The blue ramp signage indicates that this is ramp 129 (INDOT chooses one ramp number to assign all the ramps in Interstate to Interstate junctions, ramp 129 is related to Interstate 65's numbering). Photo taken by Brian Dowd (05/31/02).
Traffic from westbound Interstate 865 merges onto northbound Interstate 65. Photo taken by AARoads (10/16/04).
Perspective from Interstate 65 north and U.S. 52 west
This is the first northbound Interstate 65 reassurance shield after Interstate 865 merges onto the freeway. From here, westbound U.S. 52 is again signed alongside Interstate 65. The next exit is Exit 130, Junction Indiana 334 to Zionsville and Whitestown. Photo taken by AARoads (10/16/04).
Perspective from Interstate 65 south
This mileage sign on Interstate 65 southbound is the first notice given to motorists of the eastbound beginning of Interstate 865. The town of Zionsville is included on this sign as it is the Indiana 334 control city for Exit 130. Photo taken by Chris Patriarca (05/26/03).
A construction advisory sign is in place for Interstate 70 eastbound traffic interests to Dayton, Ohio. Traffic is advised to bypass Indianapolis via Interstate 865 east to Interstate 465 east. In the background is the Exit 130 interchange with Indiana 334. Photo taken by Chris Patriarca (05/26/03).
Interstate 65 southbound/U.S. 52 eastbound approaches the junction with Interstate 865 at Exit 129. U.S. 52 leaves Interstate 65 via Interstate 865; older signs show U.S. 52 turning east onto the former Interstate 465 Spur, but newer signs show "East Interstate 856 to East Interstate 456" without acknowledging U.S. 52. Photo taken by Jeff Morrison (08/06/05).
Interstate 65 southbound sign bridge for Exit 129 with an updated Interstate 865 shield. There is no access to Interstate 865 from Interstate 65 north. Photo taken by Jeff Morrison (08/06/05).
For U.S. 52 east, follow Interstate 865 east to Interstate 465 east and then south. Photo taken by AARoads (10/16/04).
Finally, the split between Interstate 65 and Interstate 865 travel lanes. Again, updated signage from that in the above photograph. There are no interchanges between this point and the northwest corner of the Indianapolis Beltway/Interstate 465. Note also that milepost 0 for Interstate 865 is posted to the right. Photo taken by Jeff Morrison (08/06/05).
Exit 129 gore point and zero milepost of Interstate 865 east. The next exit on Interstate 65 south is in five miles at 71st Street. Photo taken by Chris Patriarca (05/26/03).
Perspective from Interstate 65 south (Old Signage Pre-865)
This series of photos shows some of the signage (albeit grainy) of how this interchange was signed before Interstate 865 was created in 2002. Photo taken by Brian Dowd (04/20/02).
Drawing closer to the eastbound beginning of Interstate 865. Like all Indianapolis U.S. and State routes, U.S. 52 was rerouted from its in-town routing to the beltway. Photo taken by Brian Dowd (04/20/02).
Sign bridge on Interstate 65 southbound for Exit 129/Interstate 865/U.S. 52 east. U.S. 52 duplexes with Interstate 465 for 27 miles before departing at Exit 47 of the beltway. Photo taken by Brian Dowd (04/20/02).
Signage on Interstate 65 southbound at Exit 129 for Interstate 865 eastbound. Note that in all Interstate 65 southbound signage, no control cities were used. Photo taken by Brian Dowd (04/20/02).
Perspective from Interstate 865 east
These are the only shields going westbound on Interstate 865. With that stated, there is acknowledgement that Interstate 865 is multiplexed with U.S. Route 52. Photo taken by Brian Dowd (11/29/02).
Eastern Terminus - Interstate 465 - Zionsville, Indiana
Perspective from Interstate 865 east
Interstate 865 eastbound at the Cooper Road overpass. Cooper Road is just about at the half way point of the Interstate, between mile 2.4 and 2.6; it would be the perfect place to add an interchange for the freeway. Photo taken by Brian Dowd (11/29/02).
Interstate 465 south - one mile advance signage on Interstate 865 eastbound at mile 3.2 (or old mile 903.2). There is no control city for Interstate 465 on Interstate 865. Photo taken by Brian Dowd (11/29/02).
As mentioned in an above caption, U.S. 52 follows Interstate 465 east and south to Exit 47 of the beltway. This advisory signage confirms that. It is located on Interstate 865 eastbound as it approaches Interstate 465. U.S. 52 is not signed from anywhere on the Indianapolis Beltway from here until Exit 47. Photo taken by Jeff Morrison (08/06/05).
One-quarter mile guide sign, posted before mile 4 (the green 4 marker can be seen on the right past the bridge). Photo taken by Brian Dowd (11/29/02).
Interstate 865 ends at this interchange with Interstate 465. Note the omission of U.S. 52 on the left-hand panel and the lack of control cities again. Since INDOT gave this route its own number, this interchange should probably be numbered (4A/B since it is in mile 4). After all, INDOT is pretty consistent in numbering its terminal Interstate interchanges. Photo taken by Jeff Morrison (08/06/05).
Perspective from Interstate 465 west
This Northwestside interchange is a little odd in that INDOT considers Interstate 465 southbound an exit off of Interstate 465 westbound. Even with that oddity, this is the first guide sign to Interstate 865's eastern terminus. Photo taken by Brian Dowd (11/29/02).
Trying to stay on U.S. Route 52? Follow Interstate 865 westbound to "Exit 0." However, there is no Exit 0 sign on Interstate 865. This sign is just before 96th Street at the Marion County/Boone County line. Interstate 465 on the Northside skirts along the county line a couple of times. Photo taken by AARoads (10/16/04).
Westbound Interstate 465/U.S. 52 upcoming exits sign for U.S. 421 and Interstate 865 (referenced by Interstate 465 south) and Interstate 65 north (via Interstate 865 west). Photo taken by Brian Dowd (05/31/02).
Westbound Interstate 465/Indianapolis Circle approaches the Interstate 865/U.S. 52 split. The Interstate 865 guide signage on the Indianapolis Beltway omits U.S. 52 in almost all cases. The exception occurs in the "Follow Interstate 865 for U.S. 52" guide sign just east of Michigan Road/U.S. 421 northbound (depicted above). Photo taken by AARoads (10/16/04).
Approach sign bridge on Interstate 465/U.S. 52 westbound at the Boone County line for the split with Interstate 865. Photo taken by Brian Dowd (11/29/02).
This is the original signage at the westbound split of Interstate 865 and U.S. 52 from Interstate 465 (which turns southward at this interchange). The turn of Interstate 465 warrants a 45 MPH speed limit and caution lights. Photo taken by Brian Dowd (04/20/02).
This is the same sign bridge as in the previous photobox, but Interstate 865 is displayed and U.S. 52 is omitted. The ramp from Interstate 465 west to Interstate 865 west is only one lane, however a second lane opens up immediately after passing the associated overpasses. The entire length of Interstate 865 is two lanes each direction. Photo taken by AARoads (10/16/04).
Perspective from Interstate 865 west
This shield dates back to the days when the signage for this stretch of road was "To Interstate 65 north" but was probably left up since that is still the primary function of Interstate 865. The ramp in the background is the ramp from Interstate 465 north to Interstate 865 west. Note the five mile-post. Photo taken by AARoads (10/16/04).
Interstate 865 Milepost 4.4, posted within the median on westbound. The official length of Interstate 865 is toted as 4.7 miles. However, as the milepost in the above photo suggests, the length must not take into consideration the length of the ramp of Interstate 465 westbound to Interstate 865 west. Photo taken by Brian Dowd (05/31/02).
View of autumn trees and scenery on undeveloped Interstate 865 westbound. Photo taken by AARoads (10/16/04).
First (and only) westbound Interstate 865 reassurance shield. There is also one eastbound shield posted. Photo taken by AARoads (10/16/04).
This is another view of the same westbound Interstate 865 reassurance shield. Photo taken by AARoads (10/16/04).
Interstate 865 westbound at the Cooper Road overpass. Cooper Road is just about at the half way point of the Interstate, between mile 2.4 and 2.6. There are no interchanges of Interstate 865. Photo taken by Brian Dowd (11/29/02).
Perspective from Interstate 465 north
After Interstate 465 leaves the Exit 20 interchange with Interstate 65 is this centerline upcoming exits sign. There are two exits between Interstate 65 and the eastern terminus of Interstate 865. However, the signage is somewhat unclear as to what goes on at Interstate 865, displaying Interstate 465 east instead of something like "Jct Rtes I-465 East & I-865 West" (what would be used in the state of Missouri in this situation). Photo taken by Brian Dowd (11/29/02).
2.5 miles south of Interstate 865 west on Interstate 465 north. The interchange itself is actually just outside of the Indianapolis city limits. The only other time the Beltway leaves the municipal boundary is at Exit 31 with U.S. 31. Photo taken by Brian Dowd (11/29/02).
Northbound on Interstate 465/Indianapolis Beltway perspective of Interstate 865/Exit 25. The junction is located at the northwest corner of the Beltway, and thus mandates a cardinal direction change from north to east for Interstate 465. As was the case with the roadway on Interstate 465 west to south at Interstate 865, warning flashers for the ramp curvature are put in place for the westbound ramp to Interstate 865. Photo taken by Brian Dowd (05/31/02).
A second perspective of the Interstate 465 north junction with Interstate 865 west. This photo shows the ramp curvature more clearly. Photo taken by Brian Dowd (11/29/02).

Page Updated May 13, 2006.