SR 3 Road Reconstruction in New Castle

The age and current condition of the existing pavement, and the number of injury crashes along this stretch of S.R. 3 are the primary reasons for the project. A significant pattern of right-angle or “T-bone” crashes exists, specifically at commercial driveways within the northern portion of the project area.

Other needs include insufficient stormwater drainage and pedestrian facilities (sidewalks, crosswalks, curb ramps, and pedestrian signals) that meet current ADA standards.

Completion of the S.R. 3 Reconstruction Project in New Castle will provide a long-term pavement structure, reduce right-angle crashes, improve stormwater drainage infrastructure, and add pedestrian facilities.

Safety is the primary reason for the addition of curbed median along S.R. 3 from Trojan Lane to S.R. 38. A cause of many crashes along this stretch is due to motorists making left turns at commercial driveways and crossing multiple lanes of traffic. The existing layout of the six-lane highway with the two-way left turn lane is no longer the safest design for this commercial area.

The new roadway design with the raised center median is referred to as “Access Management,” which is an approach aiming improve safety and mobility and reduce congestion. This is achieved by reducing potential conflict points – i.e. limiting the locations where vehicles could collide. The more conflict points at an intersection, the higher the potential for crashes.

INDOT and other states have seen great success with Access Management  projects in reducing severe crashes and fatalities. A recent example of Access Management is on S.R. 9 in Greenfield, Indiana. In the 3 years following the construction of raised medians on S.R. 9, INDOT saw a 100% decrease in serious injury crashes.

By eliminating left turns at commercial driveways from Trojan Lane to S.R. 38,  safety will be significantly increased on S.R. 3 in New Castle.

Upon completion, left turns will no longer be possible from  commercial driveways onto S.R. 3 between Trojan Lane and S.R. 38, due to the raised center median.Instead of turning left across multiple lanes of traffic, drivers will  turn right only from commercial driveways onto S.R. 3.  U-turns will be allowed at signalized intersections for cars, however larger vehicles and trucks will have to find alternate routes via the local roadway network

As part of the project, INDOT will install “Right Turn on Red/Must Yield to U-Turn” signs on  side streets to protect U-Turns by prohibiting conflicts with drivers turning right at signalized intersections.  In addition, the left turn signals for northbound and southbound traffic will be changed to green arrows only during the day to allow protected movements when making left turns or U-turns.

Changes to median access will require some drivers, including those of large trucks, to plan alternate routes, especially those who previously relied on left turns to reach destinations along S.R. 3. Businesses are also encouraged to plan ahead by coordinating traffic changes with customers and vendors.

• Phase 1 (S.R. 3 from Trojan Ln. to S.R. 38) will be constructed in 2025.
• Phase 2 – (S.R. 3 from Sherry Lynn Dr. to Trojan Ln.) will be constructed in 2026.
• Minor construction and cleanup activities will be complete by June 2027.

S.R. 3 will close for a maximum of six days to allow for the relocation of a natural gas pipeline. This closure is anticipated during summer or fall of 2025.

Local street approaches will be closed for a maximum of five days each, with no two adjacent streets closed at the same time.

The project will be constructed one side of the roadway at a time, with at least one lane in each direction open to traffic.

Notifications will be shared via INDOT communication channels prior to all planned closures.