Indiana Demonstration Project: Rehabilitation of I-65/I-465 Interchange with Next Generation Concrete Surface in Indianapolis, IN

As a part of the Highways for LIFE initiative, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) provided a $2 million grant to the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) to research a variety of concrete surfaces, including the Next Generation Concrete Surface (NGCS) developed by Purdue University. INDOT anticipates that the NGCS would provide a significant reduction in tire-pavement noise and the ability to maintain friction for increased skid and hydroplaning resistance. The overall objective of this project was to improve the traffic flow and relieve the recurring commuting bottlenecks around the I-65 and I-465 interchange. The project involved widening of the I-65 and I-465 mainline and several ramps and construction of a new flyover ramp from westbound I-465 to southbound I-65. The key innovation of this project was the implementation of the NGCS. Three other concrete texturing techniques were implemented to study their effect on noise reduction.