First phase of Level Up 31 project means closures, detours in Hamilton County

CARMEL, Ind. – The Level Up 31 project aimed at improving U.S. 31 and I-465 in Hamilton County is underway–and that means the morning commute looks a little different.

The Indiana Department of Transportation said drivers should watch for closures along U.S. 31 and Meridian Street this week as part of Phase 1 of the project.

The overall goal is to ease congestion for drivers traveling from 465 to US 31 by adding lanes to the 465 eastbound and westbound ramps to northbound 31. An additional lane will also be added along US 31 from the 465 interchange north up to 116^th Street.

Phase 1 includes:

• Closure of the southbound US 31 ramp to 106th Street through late December
• Closure of eastbound 106th Street at US 31 through late December
• Closure on the eastbound I-465 ramp to southbound Meridian Street through mid-December

INDOT recommended a few detours.

Drivers heading south on US 31 needing to exit on 106th Street should exit instead at 116th Street and take Pennsylvania to 106th.

Due to ramp closures on I-465 and US 31, eastbound 106th Street between Illinois Street and US 31 will be closed. Eastbound drivers on 106th Street can take the Illinois Street exit north to eastbound 111th Street, go east to Pennsylvania Street then head south on Pennsylvania before going east onto 106th Street.

Southbound traffic from I-465 eastbound will be routed to the north approximately one mile, exit onto 106th Street, then re-enter US 31 southbound/Meridian Street.

INDOT said signs will be posted to help drivers with the transition.

INDOT said all through traffic on US 31 northbound and southbound, and traffic from I-465 eastbound and westbound to US 31 north will remain unrestricted through the first phase of Level Up 31.

The plan calls for four phases, with Phase 2 running from fall 2025 to summer 2026, Phase 3 from summer 2026 to winter 2026 and Phase 4 from fall 2026 to summer 2027. The entire project is slated for completion by late 2027.

Learn more here.