Barry the Orange Barrel is here to share information about the phases of construction on U.S. 31 through Franklin and help keep you connected to the businesses impacted. Your support matters as these local businesses navigate the challenges of road work.
A GENUINE FRANKLIN Campaign Supporting Our U.S. 31 Businesses
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About the Project
The U.S. 31 Corridor Improvement Project in Franklin, Indiana is a major infrastructure initiative led by the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) to enhance safety, traffic flow and connectivity along the 5.6-mile stretch of U.S. Route 31 within the city limits — from South Main Street to Israel Lane. This multi-year, multi-phase effort is transforming one of the region’s busiest and most critical roadways to better accommodate local and through traffic while improving conditions for pedestrians and drivers.
Under a $66.2 million contract awarded in early 2025, INDOT and Milestone Contractors are:
- rebuilding intersections
- replacing aging bridge and drainage structures
- implementing modern safety features along the corridor
- installing reduced-conflict intersections (RCIs)
- adding in new pedestrian pathways, crosswalks and lighting
Work began in 2025 and is being completed in sequential phases to maintain access while construction continues. The overall project is anticipated to be finished by 2028, with periodic updates on traffic changes, closures and progress provided by INDOT.
Phases
Phase 1 - COMPLETE
Phase 1 of the project included the replacement of the culvert at Canary Ditch south of Wal-Mart. This phase consisted of staged crossovers between Schoolhouse Road and the Wal-Mart/Simon Road area.
Phase 2
Phase 3
Phase 4
Phase 5
Phase 6
Reduced Conflict Intersections
By the Numbers
This project utilizes what are called Reduced Conflict Intersections (RCI)’s. The RCI is an alternative to traditional roadway intersections on a four-lane highway. Instead of motorists crossing fast-moving lanes of traffic to get to the opposing lanes, drivers at an RCI turn right in the same direction of traffic, merge into the left lane, and then make a U-turn in the direction they intend to travel.
In the RCIs installed in Indiana, INDOT has observed:
- Reduced fatal and injury crashes by an average of 81%.
- Reduced property-damage crashes by an average of 58%.
- Reduced crashes of any severity by an average of 68%.
INDOT’s analysis showed a dramatic reduction in fatal and injury vehicle crashes at each RCI:
- Fatal and injury crashes at each intersection declined between 64% and 100%.
- Property-damage crashes at each intersection ranged from No Change to 100% reduction.
- All crashes of any severity at each intersection declined between 38% and 100%.
Project Resources
Project FAQ
The purpose of this project is to reduce congestion, improve traffic flow and improve the overall safety of the US 31 corridor. It is doing so by minimizing the number of intersections with a level of service during at least one of the peak traffic hours and by reducing the potential points of conflict between vehicles in busy intersections. An additional purpose of this project is to improve the non-motorized connectivity in the City of Franklin.
The need for this project arises from a decrease in functionality and safety on the US 31 corridor passing through the City of Franklin, a lack of consistent pedestrian and non-motorized infrastructure along the corridor, and the deterioration of the structure carrying U.S. 31 over Canary Ditch within the identified project area.
The total cost estimate for the project, including construction, right-of-way, and engineering, is currently more than $66.2 million. Both federal and state funding will be used, which is included in the Statewide Transportation Improvement Program.
The project complies with local and regional development plans for the area. The 2011 Johnson County Comprehensive Plan established goals to participate in regional planning efforts through the Indianapolis MPO, to support quality trails to connect recreational uses/land, to support walkable communities and efforts to develop a community trail system and to provide for safe intersections.
The City of Franklin’s 2013 Comprehensive Plan identifies several goals related to transportation, including improving the functionality and access of the transportation network by including multiple modes of transportation in future planning and construction projects and to promote community connectivity and health by supporting the expansion of the local trail and sidewalk network.
The City of Franklin’s 2017 Thoroughfare Plan identifies three main goals: to provide a safe transportation network for motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians; to maintain an efficient roadway network; and to create a transportation system that encourages other modes of transportation, such as walking, bicycling and the use of public transit.
The Thoroughfare Plan also identifies strategies to achieve pedestrian improvements along US 31 and to pursue improvements in partnership with INDOT, including congestion mitigation along US 31 within city limits and to improve capacity of several city streets along the U.S. 31 corridor.
This project will permanently impact a total of 0.982 acre of wetlands and 220 linear feet of stream. These impacts have been minimized to the greatest amount possible. An Indiana Department of Natural Resources Construction in a Floodway (IDNR CIF) permit, USACE 404 permit and an IDEM 401 permit are anticipated. Mitigation is anticipated for impacts. The proposed project will also require a Rule 5 Construction Sediment and Erosion Control Permit from IDEM as more than one acre of land will be disturbed.
No archaeological sites were identified with in the project area as being eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. A total of 74.46 acres of terrestrial habitat will be disturbed by this project. A total of 1.88 acres of trees will be removed for this project.
Contact
This is a project of the Indiana Department of Transportation.
. Questions and comments should be directed to INDOT at:
855.463.6848
or