New I-69 exit numbers to start next month

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - While the major construction of the I-69 extension is all in central and southern Indiana, the effects of the new highway will be felt in northeast Indiana. Starting in August, I-69 from Indianapolis to the Michigan state line will be renumbered.

All the mile markers and exits will go up by 200. That means Exit 0 becomes Exit 200. Exit 41 becomes Exit 241. Exit 105 becomes Exit 305. Exit 126 becomes Exit 326, and so on.

To help people learn the new numbers, there will be dual exit signs. The new exit number will be the large number on top of the sign and the previous exit number will be at the bottom, indicating it's the old number. If a sign is damaged and needs to be replaced after the next three years, it will be replaced without the previous exit. Otherwise, the previous exit number will stay posted for the next five years.

The dual exit numbers will also be posted on the signs one mile prior to an exit.

The dual signage is also intended to help businesses who will have to eventually reprint marketing materials with updated exit numbers.

The Indiana Department of Transportation (IN-DOT) Fort Wayne district will start adding the new exit numbers at the Michigan line on the southbound side and work its way south. When crews reach the Grant County line, they'll head back up the north side of the highway. IN-DOT's Greenfield district is renumbering 69 south of Grant County. Those crews will start at mile marker 0 and work their way north to the Grant County line and then go back down the south side of the interstate. The new signs should all be up by October.

IN-DOT estimates the new exit signs and mile markers will cost around $250,000. Most of that is paid for by federal transportation money.

GPS units would need to have a software update to recognize the new mileage numbering. IN-DOT said the new numbers should be included in the next available update for a GPS system.

IN-DOT said the highway has to be renumbered because of the I-69 extension from Indianapolis to Evansville.

Will Wingfield, the director of media relations for IN-DOT, said highways are always numbered starting a the southernmost part of the highway. Usually that's at the bottom of the state.

The construction of the I-69 extension won't be complete for several more years,  but because there will be 65 miles completed this year, IN-DOT couldn't wait to renumber the northern part of the interstate because there would have been duplicate exit numbers.