Interstate 865 Indiana

Overview

Known locally as “the dogleg,” Interstate 865 is a connector northwest of Indianapolis linking I-65 at Royalton with I-465 near Zionsville. The route was designated to alleviate motorist confusion with having Interstate 465 radiate outwards in three different directions from one interchange.

There are no local exits on Interstate 865, however, there was previous discussion about adding ramps at Copper Road.

History

The Northwest Connector, the dogleg for I-465, was approved as an addition to Interstate 465 by the American Association of State Highway Officials (AASHO) on June 30, 1970.

The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) sought to renumber the section of I-465 linking with I-65 northwest of Indianapolis to improve communications for the Indianapolis Traffic Management Center (TMC), between emergency responders and the traveling public. A letter dated May 4, 2001 from INDOT to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) requested the 4.72 mile long section to be renumbered as Interstate 765. FHWA agreed with the rationale, but follow up communication on May 23, 2001 advised INDOT that the Northwest Connector should be numbered with an even prefix since it connected to the Interstate System at both ends.

INDOT eventually settled with Interstate 865, and submitted an application to the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) for the change on August 31, 2001. However the meeting for the Special Committee on Route Numbering scheduled for November 30, 2001 was postponed, and submissions were evaluated by mail ballot. I-865 was finally approved by AASHTO on December 15, 2002.

Route Information

East End – Zionsville, IN
West End – Royalton, IN
Mileage – 5.03
Cities – Indianapolis
Junctions –

Source: December 31, 2021 Interstate Route Log and Finders List

I-865 Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT)

Location	Vehicles per day
I-65 to I-465	31,272

Source: 2021 AADT – INDOT Traffic Count Database System

Photo Guides

Interstate 865

East End – Zionsville, Indiana

East at

I-865 advances one mile east to Interstate 465 from mile marker 3.2. There are no control cities for the Indianapolis Beltway. 11/05/09

I-865 east concludes at the northwest corner of Interstate 465 at an unnumbered directional T interchange. U.S. 52 accompanies I-465 eastward as the beltway straddles the Hamilton and Marion County line. 11/05/09

Interstate 465 south passes through the Park 100 area of Indianapolis to Eagle Creek Park while the beltway eastbound continues to Carmel and Castleton. 11/05/09

West at

Leaving the exchange (Exit 27) with U.S. 421, I-465 next meets Interstate 865 west at Left Exit 25. 06/25/22

Interstate 465 makes a turn off to stay on (TOTSO) movement at Left Exit 25 as it continues south from I-865 and U.S. 52 west. 06/25/22

Spanning W 96th Street just ahead of the separation with I-865/U.S. 52, I-465 enters Boone County. 06/25/22

The I-465 mainline follows a two lane directional ramp at the split with I-865/U.S. 52 west. 06/25/22

East at

I-465 crosses the Marion County line just ahead of Exit 25 and the eastern turn along the North Side of Indianapolis. 11/05/09

Interstate 865 and unsigned U.S. 52 link the beltway with I-65 north to Lebanon, Lafayette and Gary. 11/05/09

Left Exit 25 departs I-465 north for I-865/U.S. 52 west as the beltway turns east toward Carmel and Interstate 69. 11/05/09

West End – Royalton, Indiana

West at

Traffic from westbound I-865/U.S. 52 merges onto northbound Interstate 65 at a wye interchange. U.S. 52 continues along I-65 north to Lebanon. 11/05/09

South at

The first sign for I-865 east precedes the exchange (Exit 130) with Oak Street (former SR 334) at Whitestown. Photo by Thomas Decker (03/24/11).

Exit 129 signage simply references the I-865 east connection with Interstate 465 near Zionsville. I-465 leads south from I-865 to Park 100. Photo by Thomas Decker (03/24/11).

Interstate 65 southbound was expanded to four overall lanes between Exit 130 at Oak Street and Exit 129 for I-865/U.S. 52 east in 2010. Photo by Thomas Decker (03/24/11).

U.S. 52 separates from I-65 south for Interstate 865 east to I-465 for Carmel, Allisonville and Castleton. Photo by Thomas Decker (03/24/11).

I-65 southbound at Exit 129 for I-865/U.S. 52 east. This sign bridge was replaced during freeway widening in 2010. Photo by Jeff Morrison (08/06/05).

Page updated June 27, 2022.