A 37-mile stretch of northbound I-65 was closed on Aug. 7, 2015 in the interest of safety after construction crews working to widen and rehabilitate the interstate between State Road 25 and SR 38 in Tippecanoe County detected movement in a supporting pier under the I-65 bridge over Wildcat Creek. Project contractor Walsh Construction Co. installed steel supports to stabilize the bridge and geotechnical engineers from INDOT, Purdue University, and Walsh Construction reviewed designs and conducted tests to determine how to repair the bridge. Geotechnical construction crews installed micropiles, high-strength, small-diameter steel casings with rods and grout, through the footers of the existing center pier and deep into the soil to provide a long-term solution. During construction, I-65 northbound traffic was detoured onto U.S. 52, SR 28 and U.S. 231. The repaired bridge was opened to traffic on Sept. 6, 2015.
Press Releases
- Geotechnical Experts on site Today Developing a Plan at Wildcat Creek Bridge (8/8/15)
- Engineers Re-Close I-65 North Bridge near Lafayette (8/7/15)
- I-65 Remains Closed Until Engineers Develop Repair Plans (8/7/15)
- Experts Identify Solution to I-65 North Bridge Closure (08/14/15)
- Crews Test I-65 Northbound Bridge Repairs (8/19/15)
- I-65 North Reopening from Lebanon to Lafayette (9/6/15)