[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 157 (Monday, August 16, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50038-50039]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-20092]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Highway Administration
[Docket No. FHWA-2010-0059]
Temporary Closure of I-70 (I-70/I-465 West Leg Interchange to the
I-70/I-65 South Split Interchange) on October 7, 2010, in Indianapolis,
IN
AGENCIES: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.
ACTION: Final Notice.
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SUMMARY: The FHWA has approved the request from the Indiana Department
of Transportation (INDOT) to temporarily close a segment of I-70 (from
the I-70/I-465 west leg interchange to the I-70/I-65 south split
interchange) on October 7, 2010, for a 12-hour period from 6 a.m. to 6
p.m. The closure will accommodate a concentrated I-70 beautification
project sponsored by INDOT. The approval is granted in accordance with
the provisions of 23 CFR 658.11 which authorizes the deletion of
segments of the federally designated routes that make up the National
Network designated in Appendix A of 23 CFR Part 658. The FHWA published
a Notice and Request for Comment on July 2, 2010, seeking comments from
the general public on this request submitted by INDOT for a deletion in
accordance with section 658.11(d). No public comments were received.
DATES: Effective Date: This Notice is effective immediately.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Michael P. Onder, Team Leader
Truck Size and Weight and Freight Operations and Technology Team, (202)
366-2639, Raymond W. Cuprill, Office of the Chief Counsel, (202) 366-
0791, Federal Highway Administration; 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE.,
Washington, DC 20590, and Mr. Robert Tally, FHWA Division
Administrator-Indiana, (317) 226-7476. Office hours for FHWA are from
7:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., e.t., Monday through Friday, except Federal
holidays.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Electronic Access and Filing
You may retrieve a copy of the Notice and Request for Comment,
comments submitted to the docket, and a copy of this Final Notice
through the Federal eRulemaking portal at: http://www.regulations.gov.
The Web site is available 24 hours each day, 365 days each year.
Electronic submission and retrieval help and guidelines are available
under the help section of the Web site.
An electronic copy of this document may also be downloaded from
Office of the Federal Register's home page at: http://www.archives.gov/federal_register and the Government Printing Office's Web page at:
http://www.gpoaccess.gov.
Background
The INDOT submitted a request to FHWA for approval of the temporary
closure of a segment of I-70 in Indiana (from the I-70/I-465 west leg
interchange to the I-70/I-65 south split interchange) on October 7,
2010, for a 12-hour period from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. (The incoming request
and supporting documents can be viewed electronically at the docket
established for this notice at http://www.regulations.gov). This
closure will be undertaken in support of the I-70 beautification
project that will take place with the participation of approximately
9,100 Lilly ``Day of Service'' volunteers. These volunteers will be
working within five different I-70 interchanges along both sides of I-
70. Approximately 5,600 volunteers will be assigned to work on the
north side of I-70 and approximately 3,500 workers will be assigned to
the south side. Both groups have 1 hour appropriated for arrival and
parking as well as 1 hour for departure from the construction corridor.
A comprehensive plan for the arrival and departure times, parking, and
emergency evacuation (should it be necessary) has been developed. The
INDOT has indicated that by closing the Interstate through the work
zone, lengthy delays caused by the restriction of lanes will be
eliminated as well as distractions to the motoring public caused by the
9,100 workers and associated activities. In addition, the temporary
closure would eliminate the risk of work zone accidents in the area of
these work zones. The INDOT believes that the best way to ensure the
safety of the workers will be to eliminate vehicular travel through the
corridor while the work in the interchange areas is being conducted.
The closure also provides additional safety to the motorists by
eliminating the distraction that could be caused by the significant
amount of workers within the interchanges and by eliminating the need
for traffic restrictions in the actual work zone. A 12-hour condensed
closure provides a safer condition for workers and provides better
conditions than a long-term construction work zone with the associated
work zone set ups and restrictions that would otherwise take place over
many days.
The FHWA is responsible for enforcing the Federal regulations
applicable to the National Network of highways that can safely and
efficiently accommodate the large vehicles authorized by provisions of
the Surface Transportation Assistance Act of 1982 (STAA), as amended,
designated in accordance with 23 CFR part 658 and listed in Appendix A.
In accordance with sec. 658.11, the FHWA may approve deletions or
restrictions of the Interstate system or other National Network route
based upon specified justification criteria in sec. 658.11(d)(2).
Requests for deletions are published in the Federal Register for notice
and comment.
Notice and Request for Comment
The FHWA published a Notice and Request for Comment on July 2,
2010, seeking comments from the general public on this request
submitted by INDOT for a deletion in accordance with section 658.11(d).
The comment period closed on August 2, 2010. No public comments were
received.
The FHWA sought comments on this request for temporary deletion
from the National Network in accordance with 23 CFR 658.11(d).
Specifically, the request is for deletion of I-70 (from the I-70/I-465
west leg interchange to the I-70/I-65 south split interchange) from the
National Network on October 7, beginning at 6:00 a.m., for one
consecutive 12-hour period. The temporary closure of I-70 to general
traffic should have a negligible impact to interstate commerce. Using a
comparison of lane mile computations,
[[Page 50039]]
traffic will be detoured to I-465 around the south side of Indianapolis
adding only 2 to 3 minutes additional time to Interstate travel. Re-
routed I-70 through traffic via I-465 is approximately 18 miles around
the south side of I-465 (to get to the interchange of I-70 and I-465 on
the east side). If I-70 were to remain open with restrictions, the
mileage to I-70 and I-465 on the east side would be approximately 16
miles. However, vehicles would be traveling at a reduced speed limit,
resulting in large queue lengths creating back-ups which would add
significant time to their commute. The detour will have a negligible
impact on interstate commerce as the I-465 diversion route would add
little distance or time to an interstate or long distance trip.
Businesses requiring deliveries adjacent to the closed area will be
encouraged to receive deliveries before or after the October 7 closure
times in order to minimize these local impacts.
Commercial motor vehicles will use I-465 around the south side of
Indianapolis. During the time of closure there will be some INDOT
construction along the detour route and along Interstate I-465 on the
west side of Indianapolis. The detour route will have no lane
restrictions for motorists during this time and INDOT will not plan for
any lane closures in other nearby construction zones. The INDOT will
increase the Hoosier Helper workforce (freeway service patrols) along
I-465 to address incident response and minimize any incident impacts.
The INDOT will issue a press release to inform the community of the
closure and will post the closure in Road Restriction System (RRS) and
INDOT's traveler information Web site Traffic Wise (http://www.trafficwise.in.gov) to help with notification to the motorists.
The temporary closure plan has been prepared in accordance with
INDOT's transportation plan and has been reviewed and approved by the
city of Indianapolis and the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police
Department. The INDOT has reached out to Federal, State, and local
agencies to ensure a collaborative and coordinated effort to address
the logistical challenges of the I-70 beautification project. The
Illinois Department of Transportation and the Ohio Department of
Transportation have been informed of this proposal. Additionally,
efforts have been made to work with the various transit systems as well
as the American Trucking Association. The INDOT has met with, and
gained support from the Indiana Motor Trucking Association, and has the
endorsement of the city of Indianapolis, specifically The Greater
Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce and the local business districts
adjacent to the closure. (Full list of endorsements can be viewed
electronically at the docket established for this notice at http://www.regulations.gov).
The INDOT has carefully evaluated all possible alternatives and
after doing so believes the temporary closure of I-70 is the best way
to ensure the safety not only to the volunteer workers, but also to the
motorists. The INDOT is actively working with KIB and Lilly to develop
an aggressive communications plan utilizing local business associations
along the I-70 corridor, Indianapolis Downtown, Inc., and media
outlets. Special consideration will be given to local and national
trucking publications. Event day media staging areas and command posts
are also included in the plan.
The FHWA did not receive any comments in response to the Notice and
Request for Comment. After full consideration of the INDOT request
discussed in this Final Notice and determining that the request meets
the requirements of 23 CFR 658.11(d), the FHWA approves the deletion as
proposed.
Authority: 23 U.S.C. 127, 315 and 49 U.S.C. 31111, 31112, and
31114; 23 CFR part 658.
Issued on: August 9, 2010.
Victor M. Mendez,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2010-20092 Filed 8-13-10; 8:45 am]
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