GREENFIELD — There’s good news on the horizon for Interstate 70 drivers who take eastbound Interstate 70 often: the Greenfield ramp is slated to reopen by the end of the month.
The entrance ramp has been closed since early August, when Indiana Department of Transportation officials shut it down, citing safety concerns during construction.
The road work to rehabilitate two bridges took up the acceleration lane, making it dangerous for eastbound drivers trying to merge with oncoming traffic.
Construction in the area should wrap up in the coming weeks, and the ramp should reopen by end of October, said Nathan Riggs, information director for INDOT.
Construction crews have spent the past two months rehabilitating a pair of bridges over Brandywine Creek, just east of the State Road 9 exit.
The exit, which is Exit 104, originally was planned to remain open, with flashing signs alerting drivers to slow down and make way for those trying to merge.
Within a few weeks, eight accidents near the Greenfield exit had been reported to county dispatch, leading INDOT to close the ramp Aug. 4.
While the closure has been inconvenient for local drivers, shutting down the ramp was the best way to reduce the number of accidents and keep drivers and construction workers safe, INDOT officials said.
