I70 thru Indy - AVOID

[mpsgolf]

I70 thru Indianapolis was the WORST road I have driven in years!! I70 across the whole state wasnt much better.

The potholes and joints in the highway especially at overpasses were far beyond annoying they were dangerous. One highway was completely closed putting more traffic on 70.

I wrote IN DoT and recvd typical corporate marketing nonsense in return. I politely told them whoever is in charge is not doing their job and should be fired.

How can IN and Indy be doing such a far worse job than other states!?

[skyguyscott]

Originally Posted by mpsgolf

How can IN and Indy be doing such a far worse job than other states!?

Indeed. The number of possible answers boggles the mind!

[Tincampers]

Indy is pretty bad. We saw a pothole so big that there was an entire SmartCar in it. LOL Made the road a little smoother.

[MWBishop]

Cheap speed control?
Maybe have financial interest in tire/alignment shops?

Infrastructure is just getting outright disgraceful.

[turk123]

We had heard about the roads on our recent trip to Alumapolosa. Many coming from that direction were treated to the worst roads in America. No one was happy about the experience.

[Martee]

I drove I-70 in Illinois and Indiana early this year with my Airstream. It was horrible. Easily the worst highway I have been on in last 20 years of driving. Even 18 wheelers were blowing their tires on the 15" deep potholes scattered in a obvious strategy to cause most damage for Airstreamers.

Credit to Illinois, they have spent all June and July paving a very bad stretch of I-70 and now they have a great road again.[emoji3][emoji3].

Shame on Indiana, as they have not made any effort to make I-70 repairs....despite the hundreds of millions received from the Federal government to maintain that interstate.

[AtomicNo13]

We experienced I70 last month.
I feel Indiana owes me damages!

[mpsgolf]

I just filed a “report” with the federal highway administration. Not that I’m expecting a call back but at least I tried.

[Daquenzer]

You haven’t been on the interstate north of Milwaukee to Port Washington.

[jcwall]

We live on the west side of IN.. Took I70 easy bound on July 28 and the roads were terrible. It’s Weird because they have been working on them every summer. Currently in Nova Scotia. The IN roads were the worst of the trip.

[PatLee]

I will be starting my return trip to east coast in 10 days or so from Omaha. Any suggestions on alternate route around Indy’s Horrible I-70? Much appreciate it!!

[uncle_bob]

Hi

Well, it's all relative .... I-74 from Cincinnati to Indy is pretty rotten as well. We just about had a dump truck loose it and go into the ditch in front of us from the pavement issues. I can't say that I-65 headed north out of Indy was much better.

The good news must be that taxes are really low in Indiana.

Bob

[Bob Peahl]

Yup. I70 is a real bone rattler in Indiana. Second only to I84 in Connecticut, which holds our record for the worst interstate ride.

[helwigc]

For the past several years as soon as we get into Indiana on I70 heading west we take the state roads to the north. It takes a little longer but the roads are much better and I am not tearing up my rig.

[Davidwantz]

I would offer the parallel route US 40 as an alternative. Much nicer and passes through some nice Hoosier towns. Then there is the Lincoln Highway US 30 in Northern Indiana or even the venerable US 50 in Southern Indiana.

Beware if you DO take I-70 that there will be considerable closure and work on the beltway around Indy beginning in September.

[Tincampers]

Originally Posted by Davidwantz

I would offer the parallel route US 40 as an alternative. Much nicer and passes through some nice Hoosier towns. Then there is the Lincoln Highway US 30 in Northern Indiana or even the venerable US 50 in Southern Indiana.

Beware if you DO take I-70 that there will be considerable closure and work on the beltway around Indy beginning in September.

Are they installing bigger potholes?

[mykytiukr]

I-70 west of Indy is not so bad. It’s going through and east it is rough and the traffic is atrocious!!! Whenever I truck through Indiana I avoid both I-65 and I-70 every chance I get. If going east I will get on U.S. 30 or if going south I will use U.S. 41/IN 63.

[sajohnson]

Since we're talking about highway maint, and we all want smoother roads -- how do people prefer to pay for them?

1) The fuel tax hasn't been raised since 1993 (IIRC) and is an average of about $0.50 per gallon.

For a car getting 25 mpg, that's just 2 cents per mile. For RVers it's obviously more -- but not nearly as much as tolls cost.

At 10 mpg the fuel tax costs 5 cents per mile.

2) Tolls are almost always MUCH more expensive.

I just picked one toll road at random -- I-294 around Chicago. The full length is about 57 miles and costs $15.60 for a "medium truck" (3-4 axles). That's $0.27 per mile, on top of the fuel tax you already paid! See the calculator here:

https://www.getipass.com/trip-calculator

We live in Central MD, not far from D.C. I-66 inside the Beltway has been converted to a variable rate toll road. It can be as much as $44 for the 10 mile stretch -- $4.40 per mile!

In short, the motor fuel tax could be *doubled* (or even quadrupled) and we'd all be better off than paying tolls.

Food for thought.

DW and I avoid toll roads out of principle, within reason. If they are clearly the only/best choice we'll grudgingly take them. Generally speaking though, our feeling is that we already paid at the pump.

[sajohnson]

Originally Posted by mykytiukr

I-70 west of Indy is not so bad. It’s going through and east it is rough and the traffic is atrocious!!! Whenever I truck through Indiana I avoid both I-65 and I-70 every chance I get. If going east I will get on U.S. 30 or if going south I will use U.S. 41/IN 63.

Am I correct in assuming that US 30 west is also preferable to I-70?

It's funny how the condition of a road can vary so much from state to state. I-70 here in MD is in generally good shape. I guess we're spoiled.

[StreaminGeo]

I'm glad to see this thread. We were planning to approach Cincinnati from the west on I-70 through Illinois and Indiana in late September. No longer. We'll take US 50 instead.