Large swaths of the Interstate Highway System are in bad shape. Normally though, you can still at least drive at highway speeds. That’s not the case on a 14-mile stretch where potholes have gotten so bad that the speed limit has been reduced down to 45 mph.
The speed reduction is in effect on I-69 in Indiana from around mile marker 217 through 245. Lagging maintenance, freezing temperatures, and recent heavy rain are creating enormous potholes which are causing a huge number of blowouts – especially to large trucks who can’t maneuver around them as easily as other nearby motorists.
According to ISP Master Trooper Ron Huff, during just one hour, at least 30 drivers got flat tires on that stretch of road. ISP even began escorting vehicles along the section to try and keep blowouts from happening – and to stay close by when they inevitably did. Troopers helped drivers change tires where they could, but tow trucks were working overtime to get vehicles off of the shoulders.
According to INDOT, an asphalt plant was kept open around the clock. First, repair crews used a temporary patching solution to fill potholes. Then, a permanent mixture is used to fill the holes during low-traffic hours. And once the summer comes, INDOT plans to repave the road.
Patching is being done in four sections. In each section crews will close off half the lanes at a time, allowing traffic to at least keep inching along. While the slowdown is in effect, and while repairs are under way, INDOT recommends that drivers use an alternate route.
Source: gobytrucknews, wane, wthr, wishtv
JQ says
Build rubber roads
Becky says
Its prettty pathetic that I read the first line of the title and instantly said must be Indiana. Shocker I was correct, they’ve never been able to maintain roads and their “cut out a big chunk and replace it” theory is horse crap.
Brad Gipson says
Yeah, okay. Apparently you don’t go to Michigan.
Seems that the people of this country would stand up at some point and demand that the taxes that were placed on fuel, specifically for infrastructure, go into an account only for infrastructure. Instead they put it into the general fund and when that money is used for other projects they want to raise taxes to fix the roads.
Jim says
No one in this country is going to stand up for anything.
They’re too preoccupied obsessing about rich men who run around with a ball.
Cmill says
That is the silliest response to a serious issue! Your response shows where your motivations lie!
Jason L Turner says
No, he’s actually stating a fact.
When was the last successful trucker strike???
Exactly!!!
Larry Vargo says
He’s absolutely right. This country’s obsession with professional sports, the way overpaid knuckleheads who’ve helped turn it all from sports into a mega business, and not the least of all the “open secret” national gambling industry which financially feeds all this foolishness seems to be a fact of life just like acne, hemorrhoids, and other such fun things. This is “the thing” for us guys, what with “favourite teams” and “betting on the game”. Sort of like the Kardashians and other “celebs” are for women. I know, this isn’t really relevant to our infrastructure problem but I guess it’s more glamourous than condemned bridges. And I couldn’t just sit quietly by and let you belittle Jim for stating the truth.
Also, nice try at changing the course of the discussion. He’s also right about our failure to properly allocate the resources (money, mainly). I’ve little doubt there’s plenty enough being paid in to do the job, and it’s being shovelled out to places it has no business going instead. If we want to finance care for orphans or planting trees we (or maybe our “responsible” representatives) should muster up the honesty to admit it’s gonna cost money (taxes) and give these causes their own siphon to our pockets. Not steal from another area of the budget.
There, I can rant with the best of them.
Chris says
Another thing to think about is every truck on the road has to pay a tax (2290) of $550. each year. There are over 500,000 trucking companies in the United States with over 15 1/2 million trucks on the road with 2,000,000 being tractor trailers. So where are all them tax dollars going? I thought since it’s a highway tax it wa supposed to be to keep highways in good condition…
les_gvt says
maybe we should start driving on the bike lanes and bike paths they are building with that money. and just how expensive and fancy does a rest area really need to be?
Anton says
The Same here
Jay says
That’s why the ex-Govenor/ Vice President could brag about a surplus budget, because if you hold onto fuel taxes and don’t fix the roads, you get a surplus.
William says
Hrs been gone two years look at your current governor that’s the one to blame now. Not saying Pence is not also to blame but its not on his watch that this is happening.
Stephen Harris says
Why didn’t Obama do something. As an over the road driver, this section has been bad for at least 4 years.
Gus says
Indiana roads were crap long before pence.
Scott says
Indiana roads are horrible…been driving over 25 years….always been crap!!
Jeff Pearson says
If the road was PROPERLY put in in the first place..where water couldnt get into the base and sub base rock..where it was compacted properly..but it is apparent that this didnt happen..asphalt has no structual stability other than PROTECTING the base…and when the base gets wet.. it will start to pump..loosening up the stability of the road..so a simple patch is not always the answer
Shane Wilson says
Patching is never a solution, ever. It’ll eventually cost double in the end as patching is wasting money as it only lasts for such a short time, then patched again and again till the base is completely destroyed. It then needs to be dug up and rebuilt completely longer repair time means extra wages. Downward spiral as each day goes by and deteriorates even faster.
Rob says
Very well said, you seem to know what your talking about, now I understand how our roads are built just a little bit more!
Robert Benoit says
Cut out a chunk a replace is the way many states fix the road. It’s cheaper. They take the rest of the money and line a politicians fat pocket instead of fixing the road. But your right. Reading headline and knowing it was Indiana is really bad. Indiana has some of the worst roads.
Irene C says
My thought exactly: I-69 Indiana, somewhere between Indy and Gas City.
tazz says
haha, i said the same thing the min i read the header.
kfzmeister says
Illinois not an ounce better!
C says
No, they need to replace the entire road of 14 miles!
David says
Thats how they brag about a Balanced budget in IN..
BC says
As if a balanced budget is a bad thing. Right? Lol
Phil A says
At what cost ?
Rodney says
A balanced budget is more important than perfect roads. Politicians can NOT be trusted borrowing money.
Brez says
Used to be our highway system was the envy of the world (except maybe Germany). Now we are on a par with maybe Lithuania. Tax the rich.
Josh says
More like “put the funds to the roads”
This is right on the heels of raised truck tolls on the Indiana Toll Road going to bike paths and other non-highway things.
Or how about Indiana having mile after mile of “work zones” whose only purpose, other than generating revenue, is to give the barrels some air?
Jay says
Maybe we should be building roads instead of walls?
John L says
Can you imagine 7 billion to fix roads?
Gus says
In your itty bitty mind do you know how much is spent on roads, damn, 5++ billion was wasted by California on a train to no where.
Gus says
44.23 billion spent last year.
Robert Benoit says
We need to build the wall. The road money is not being used for the roads. Indiana is raising the tolls for trucks and using it for walking paths and high speed internet. Use it for the roads. I’m a truck driver and I shouldn’t have to pay for Indiana rural areas to get high speed internet and walking paths.
Malcolm Newcomb says
Isn’t that what SIDEWALKS are for?
Gus says
In the year 2009 we spent 41 billion on roads, 44.23 billion in 2018. Did you graduate the eighth grade.
Kelly says
So of what you say is true. We spent about 7.5% more in dollars 9 years later. Factor in inflation which would be material and labor costs. We’re actually spending less in today’s dollars on infrastructure at a time when fuel taxes and tolls have increased in some areas. On a positive note bridges, overpasses, and some entrance exit ramps are in major arteries are being done nicely.
Benjamin says
Yes!
Fix the roads and other infrastructure in this country and stop all this racist crybaby crap about a stupid wall.
Maybe, just maybe we need to allow a few people into this country who are willing to work hard for the American Dream and not expect 50 bucks an hour for simple labor jobs.
I’m an owner operator and I expect my fuel tax dollars to be used for the intended purpose, not to feed self serving, greedy political adgendas.
Jim says
Well what do you say about the people who get $1000 an hour and more for desk-sitting in expensive suits??
David says
Wall should be paid for.. use the money that they confiscated from EL Chapo!!
Shaun says
It’s all gone lmao
Phil A says
Well said. The condition of the nation’s roads is a lot closer to an actual national emergency.
Markus the expert says
If the top 10% of earners(those who took risk and created wealth)already provide 60% of the tax revenue, and the next 10% account for a total of 80%, where will we stop? With some fools advocating to take 70 percent off the top profits, what have these figures shown in other countries?
If you soak the golden goose, the bird can fly away. Maybe that is why the damn fools are pressing to limit travel out of the country(suppression of freedom of movement). Now you’re on a roll! Next you need to kill off the educated persons who might speak out against the abuse. Will you please tell me what this is called?
Phil A says
Markus, it’s called “stop listening to Fox News” and their never ending crusade to persuade you to advocate against your own best interests.
Allen says
No big surprise, Indiana has some REAL CRAPPY ROADS! I guess the increased revenue from higher fuel taxes is going into somebody’s pocket or being wasted on something else besides highways. I travel as little as possible in Indiana and since the greedy grab through increased fuel taxes I refuse to purchase fuel there. Overall Indiana appears to be a VERY MISMANAGED STATE.
Josh says
Kinda makes you wonder about the companies that get hired to do the road work.
Half the time, it’s five miles of barrels with a truck or something parked by itself somewhere in the median.
Chet Gerber says
How many years ago did Indiana sell off the toll road. For huge bucks. How happy they were..now flush with money. Where did it all go?
Josh says
Based on all the billboards for politicians talking about “your fair share”, ads for lawyers, and ads for Jesus, seems like the general consensus is to hope someone else deals with all the problems
Jeremy Herring says
The profits from leasing the Indiana toll road is what paid for the southern leg new construction of I-69 from Evansville to Bloomington. So little traffic yet it’s also already falling apart and it’s just a few years old.
Indiana has never been interested in building a road that lasts because then the road construction industry wouldn’t be able to maintain their revolving door of profits from the whole ‘build/patch/rebuild every decade’ scheme.
Karl Caldwell says
You should try driving in the province of Quebec the whole place is a pothole after pothole after pothole the worst roads in the world must be in Quebec
Chopper Dave says
Quebec is the trailer park of Canada so this comment hardly surprises me.
Steve Boyd says
They have increased sales tax, liscense fees, doubled fuel tax and still their priority is to build 3 lanes when they can’t maintain 2. During the 2016 election they admitted to pocketing rd maintenance money to put in their “rainy day fund” and promised to fix the rds but also not to raise taxes. These people should not only be fired, they should be in prison.
David Hendrickson says
All taxes (federal) levied on truckers for fuel is for interstate maintenance. All local taxes on fuel are “supposed” to go into a maintenance fund for road repair.
Most politicians see this as free money to spend on things almost related to road maintenance, like bike paths and new medians, etc.
Everything but what it is supposed to be used for.
GT says
All the road money is being spent to feed and provide free healthcare to deliver babies of aliens and poor people all across this country who are sucking the system dry. You better get used to it cause it’s never gonna change now. Were to far gone. The Feds should have stepped in decades ago and sterilized people who were having kids and cannot pay the hospital bills.
Tommy Molnar says
Unfortunately GT, you are spot on. We’ve lost control, and we’re quickly losing our country.
David says
Let someone come to Washington DC that wants to take it back and people loose there dang minds..
Markus the expert says
Agreed.
MrYowler says
“KILL ALL HUMANS!”
– Bender the Robot, Futurama
kfzmeister says
But strangely, the Rich keep getting richer. Hmmm, how exactly does this happen? 🤔
Kelly says
Easy, low interest rates with rising asset prices equal increased wealth. Hasn’t your retirement account saw a nice increase over the last 10 years? My wife’s, my daughters, and mine are up significantly. With increased annual contributions besides appreciation!
Duh says
GT… except that one part. The Part where you made up everything? Your entire post? Yeah, that part.
You’ve now reached the “Did you know that Proctor & Gamble is in league with the Devil?” level of stupidity.
CONGRATS!!
Robert Spicer says
At least there is a fix in place. I thought for sure it was I20 through the downtown area of Shreveport and Bossier City, La. Absolutely horrible!
Tom C says
Used to drive a truck glad I dont no more the trucking industry has really gone in the toilet
Sandman says
Michigan is not much better, and the 5 mile stretch of the NY throughway they have lowered the speed limit instead of repairing it.
Fozzy says
Build the wall! LOL.. morons!
Chopper Dave says
What does the wall have to do with how money is being misused in a state that is far from such a structure?
Ryan says
Pathetic! And here I was almost certain it was in Illinois!
kfzmeister says
No difference!
tazz says
the construction on that highway never ends, and it is always that same location… the reason, road construction companies build the wall, then pipe fitting companies come and make holes to fit the pipes, that leaves patches… then you have bumps and slowly slowly towards the winter snow plows break the patches even more and there you have it… Indiana has the worst highway, they keep stealing money from truckers but don’t invest the money on the truckers… i wish indiana was located somewhere else not in my weekly path.
Markus the expert says
Geeze, glad I don’t go to Indiana anymore.
Bryan Hapner says
As soon as I read the headline I not only knew it was Indiana but I knew it was I 69 right in that area I had a blown tire right in that area for years ago the roads were that bad 4 years ago and they’re just as badge today!!!
Socomofo says
Indiana is the worlds largest trailer park.
Kevin Chevalier says
your tax dollars hard at work, I believe they do that on purpose to
slow you down without lowering the speed limit
Thomas says
We pay taxes for a purpose such as this so failure to matain the highway and damage done to any vehicle I think there should be compensation paid for the repairs to the vehicles…fat chance!
Jrk says
If the rich want all these elegals here.ok.then u all let them live the free life in your neighborhoods and u 100 percent support them. Not us…we working , tax paying, real Americans say no to your robbing us to give them the free life at our cost. Elected by the people for the people.
Did u forget…….
H D says
Boycott the highway. There are other ways to get where ya’ll need to go.
Vanya Kouveli says
Crocodile tears by INDOT and governor. Indiana blames us, the truckers for “damaging the roads”. Ha. In Europe you won’t see any concrete roads nowhere not even for mule-and donkey-paths! Asphalt (which means=unmistaken in Greek) So India-na is worse than India and tolls trucks as a punishment. Great.
Jerry says
What’s the whole point of fuel taxes ? To repair and maintain the roads. Why doesn’t someone find out how much fuel tax is collected a year state and fed and then how much of that is spent on roads. Be interesting to see. I have seen so many state fuel taxes increases to “fix the roads” and then nothing seems to get done until the next fuel tax increase.
Brian L Helle says
I bet President Dwight D. Eisenhower (for those who don’t know – he made up the interstate system that’s why the interstate system is named after him) but anyway I bet he’s turning over in his grave about the way these roads have become & states doing nothing if very little to change them on repairs etc. Indiana Michigan Ohio Kentucky Louisiana just to name a few. That’s why there’s a fuel tax it’s supposed to go for infrastructure (bridges roads etc) but some states (like mentioned) prefer to use it for other things (like lining politicians pockets – also like mentioned).
The National Transportation Department need to get involved more than what they’re doing and quit passing the blame on others.
Yes I agree that cold & inclimate weather conditions play a part but so does neglect of the state’s transportation departments. So it basically points fingers back to politicians (corrupt or not).
terr y harrison says
https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/chao-met-politicans-officials-at-least-10-times-mcconnell-request
Old Dog says
Where I-39 NB turns east to join I-90 near Rockford one of the seams between lanes was missing and was a “pot channel”, wide enough for tire widths to fall into and get trapped. I went through there two nights ago and 3 cars had flats. I was worried about one of my steer tires.
I am guessing most northern states have their “choice” road sections.
cyrus curenton says
Roadbuilders and Medical doctors have a common problem.
Doctors know that a patient cured is a patient lost.
Roadbuilders know that a highway that lasts is a highway they can’t work on.
Think about it…
trucksareworthless says
Add truck only tolls that will fix it
Paul Logan says
Patrick Wayne said it best.
WHERE’S THE MONEY, DADDY?
The Highway trust fund is about EMPTY. WHY??
Every crook in Congress did Bicycle paths, Miami did HWY 1 median beautification. High-speed rail, INTER CITY TRANSIT. THEN THE BRIDGE IN THE TWIN CITIES FELL.
And it’s still broke.
RAISE TAXES!!!!
Big Yellower says
Most states take federal dollars to build round abouts at price tag of $1-5 million dollars each . 4 way stop light costs about $250K. The problem is road construction is unregulated.unlike all other forms of construction have price guides estimates made by Government for basis to charge for services rendered.
In reality $5 million would pave probably around 50-100 miles if there were price guides estimates. Also the interstate was build very fast and done poorly . WA, was last state to build the final stretches of interstate and it was done properly. Watch modern marvels the “American Interstate “.
Dj says
It’s all because of that stupid global warming.
Dave says
Indiana has had the worst roads for years.
They wait to remove snow until AFTER the storm. US 41 as an example.
Wisconsin tore down a bridge and had it mostly replaced by th e time Indiana completed a 13 mile road resurfacing project.
A bunch of clowns run InDot.
Slipper says
This section of 69 has been that 10 years ago when I used to run to Chicago daily. It was so bad I remembered where the holes were and looked like a drunk driver swerving to miss them. Piss poor at fixing and maintaining roads during snow storms they wait til accidents and fatalities til they send crews out.
Jeff says
That’s one reason why I don’t go to Indiana rarely do I go up there because of the roads and I don’t use tollroads I’ll be damn if I’m going to pay to drive on garbage I go around it I will not pay tolls in Indiana, Ohio, Chicago The tolls keep going up and up and the roads get worse so why should I pay to drive on garbage and don’t buy but very little fuel in Indiana it’s to high I’ll go back south and buy it.
Orland says
It is better to use road taxes to support low income housing and welfare, why don’t you all get it, the ship is sinking, México is in better shape than America, why we call America a first world country when in fact we are a fifth world country, worst than third.
Red says
Hey I got an idea. Why don’t they just charge working class people an income tax on their wages, fuel tax on their fuel, sales tax on general goods that they buy, IFTA fuel tax on your big truck, and they could even put up little booths on a road that collect money from you for using that road. Then take all that tax money and use that to fix the roads. Simple.
Why does that sound so familiar? Hmmm
Mickey Swaboda says
Indiana has the worst roads in the country anyway. Going through Indianapolis is like fighting in the jungles of Vietnam, dodging pot holes like mines. Even the turnpike is the worst. And it’s not the truckers fault it’s the State fixing the roads cheaply. Look at Ohio , Illinois they have decent roads and their neighbors.
Randy Brown says
I believe all the companies/owner op’s need to start sending Indiana their repair bills for fixing the trucks after driving through on the roads. This is a stare wide problem, not just I-69; look at the 65 coming from Louisville or 465 around and through Indy!
DonM says
As you drive on all these poorly maintained roads. Take comfort in knowing that the people dependent on your tax dollars could give a crap about you, and are reproducing at theee Times the rate of the working class. Your elected officials are at the same time hard at work funneling money away from the programs that they were originally designed for, for the purpose of enriching themselves at taxpayer expense.
So there you have it the Preface as to how the greatest country in the world fell into ruins. But take comfort in knowing when we fall into total economic collapse that the military will take over. Congress and Senate will be replaced by a Computer Program that is programmed for the execution of responsible and equitable government regulation.
MW says
It’s pretty crazy how they update everything else
Only to use substrate tolerances from 50 years ago.
Everywhere I go in the tri-state all I see is all underlying strata movement which buckles the bed, then roadway failure.
With the weights permitted in those states you would think they could figure it out.
Might be too busy with digging deeper into empty pockets I assume.
Kevin Chevalier says
They rape you on taxes then give it to unnecessary useless projects that
have no benefits or returns why fix the roads when we can go to mars
Rickyrobby says
What are they doing with my taxes I pay for roads (roadtax) not fixing the roads apparently
waynesworld says
I don’t even have any business in Indiana, if I absolutely need to its just a drive thru NO STOPPING, NO FUEL, NO NUTHIN, I don’t and won’t even buy a soda or chips because of fuel and higher tolls and the roads, life’s a bitch so Indiana tightin up
Rightlane 76 says
What about 95 in South Carolina? Should’ve been repacked 10years ago
L.A. Draper says
No, Im going with Becky. Indiana has the worst interstate roadways in the country. I drove my old Freightliner up 69 a year or so back and I ended up pulling to the shoulder because I was so angry at the beating my truck was taking. 70 has gotten better but I still end up in the left hand lane because I own the rig and I care about it. Was it Pence who sold the Indy Pike to a German company that continues to jack up tolls on that road? Indiana the heart of something? Yes, mismanagement. I’ve avoided 70 through Indianapolis for quite some time.
Irreverent Crawfish says
I’m surprised this story isn’t from Pennsylvania.
Donald D Miller says
Lol, this road was barely passable 3 yrs ago before I retired! Really sad to see that it has just gotten worse! You would think Pence would have the ear or Trump and get some help for fixing this road! Really sad what this stuff does to truckers! Our gov needs to get in gear and work on our infrastructure and stop playing politics with our future! Good luck guys!
Morley Howard says
Having lived in Indiana and paying taxes in this state since 2000, I can honestly say that the roads here are nearly the worst I have seen since I started driving the truck. This state does not spend the extra money to build the road correctly in the first place, accounting for drainage and heavy traffic and freezing temps. LETS DO IT CHEAP !! And the fixes they do, shoveling hot asphalt into a pothole. LETS DO A CHEAP TEMPORARY FIX !!! And when they get around to doing a permanent fix ?? THEY USE THE SAME CHEAP METHOD THEY INITAILLY DID TO BUILD THE ROAD IN THE FIRST PLACE.
Build it right in the first place, its not that difficult. Saves you a lot in the long run.
Rony Barahona says
That type of problem is all over US team barely sleep when they are resting and then DOT want the drivers sharp when they are on duty funny don’t you think
phantom 308 says
If everyone sues them for the damage they will have the best roads in the country which is what you’re paying for. Or refund the fuel tax money.
Super trucker says
California still takes the cake for being the supposed 5th largest economy their roads have no excuse and still suck. Homeless people out there sell road maps to find your way back out of the pothole once you fall in.
Catch that left lane and enjoy some smooth road and take advantage of the split speed limit
roger waller says
I refuse to go there anymore.
roger waller says
Yes,I just crossed the country from Conecticut to Portland Oregon and Indiana was the worst. Come on Indiana, even Illinois roads were way better.
Ed says
They don’t have roads like they should one or two inch top cap is not enough in the north with all the technology you would think they would wake up pave it to the speck of 6 to 10 inches thick it’s sad at how rich the paving contractors are getting and the states just blow hundreds of millions on it only to have roads fall apart in few years only to have to be repaved the tax payer is getting not the money’s worth for sure there is tech now they can put rubber base in it and pave it very thick also tell me why roads paved in the 70s are still smooth and nice roads paved 5 years ago are falling apart it’s called quality and we are not receiving it
les_gvt says
granted it has been a while since i was in Cananda- but the 400 series in ON and the PQ system both blew away anything most states in US can do- and they have colder weather longer with more snow and ice. Maybe they can teach us some lessons