To find information about public meetings and public hearings, refer to the INDOT Meetings and Hearings Calendar.

INDOT is led by a commissioner who is appointed by the governor. The commissioner has a staff of deputy commissioners who are responsible for specific areas of INDOT. Click here to learn more about the INDOT commissioner and the executive staff.

INDOT has six district offices across the state that handle day-to-day operations such as construction, detours, traffic signal operations, permits and maintenance operations which include repairing potholes, removing dead animals, treating roadways for snow/ice and plowing snow, along with various other responsibilities. Click here to find out more about the six district offices.

Visit the INDOT Rest Areas page to find information about rest areas and welcome centers in Indiana, including their location, phone numbers, parking spots and facilities.

Travel guides that are displayed in rest areas and welcome centers are published by the Indiana Department of Tourism. You may order the travel guides on the Visit Indiana website.

There could be several reasons you don’t see anyone on the job site. Plans are created to design the flow of traffic for every construction project. Many factors are considered in the development of these plans. Many construction projects on interstate highways, U.S. routes, or state roads require work to be performed at night, when traffic is lighter. Workers may also be performing other project tasks or waiting for new road surfaces to harden before moving onto the next phase of a project. To improve motorist and worker safety, most active work zones have traffic or lane restrictions in place 24/7 unless otherwise specified. Most crashes in construction zones occur at the beginning of the zone, therefore it is safer and more efficient for lane restrictions to be maintained continually in a construction zone.

Detours or alternate routes required by construction projects must be directed to other interstate highways, U.S. routes, or state roads due to the traffic volume and size of vehicles that travel these roads. Detours or alternate routes that use county roads or city streets, while they may be the more direct, are not allowed because these roads are not built to withstand heavy traffic flow or the size and weight of the vehicles that travel on INDOT roads. Detours for construction projects are indicated on the INDOT CARS Program where available.

INDOT follows the standard set forth in the Federal Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices when setting up construction zone signs. We do, however, recognize that sometimes additional signage may be needed. In those instances, we will investigate reported concerns and determine whether or not additional signs are warranted. You may use the Customer Service Portal, Report a Concern to submit a request for a review of construction zone signage.

You may subscribe to notification alerts via e-mail or SMS text messages here. The subscription service enables you to select the specific construction projects, topics, processes, or areas you would like to be notified about.

INDOT recognizes the importance of involving the public as early as possible when developing transportation solutions to best meet the state’s transportation challenges. It is the policy of INDOT to promote public involvement opportunities in the planning and project development phases, continuing through project construction and maintenance. Click here for a brochure that explains more about how construction projects are developed, including public involvement opportunities during planning and construction.

The INDOT website provides a District Map which lists all six districts in Indiana. Use the interactive map to locate your county. Once you find your area, click the desired location and you will be redirected to the appropriate district homepage, which lists all current, future, and proposed projects within the area.

The INDOT website includes information about major projects on interstate highways, U.S. routes and state roads. To read more information about each project, go to the Major Projects page and select the project on the navigation menu.

You may also visit the INDOT Construction Map to see all state and local construction projects by Indiana county.

All consultants or firms that desire to provide professional services on INDOT construction projects that require the work to be performed by or under the supervision of a registered engineer, architect, or surveyor must be pre-qualified. Click here to learn more about consultant pre-qualification requirements, the application process, and other related information.

Individuals or companies that want to work as a prime contractor on INDOT projects must be pre-qualified. Click here to learn more about the contractor pre-qualification requirements, the application process, and other related information.

The INDOT web page with contract letting information can be found here. To see construction bid results, select the contract letting date and click on Official Bidding Results.

INDOT refreshes pavement lines and markings at different locations every year. INDOT will generally repaint or refresh center lines annually, while edge lines are repainted or refreshed when needed. INDOT measures and evaluates the reflectivity of pavement lines and markings to identify those that need to be repainted. If the lines and markings meet reflectivity standards, even though they look worn, we typically will not repaint them. Temperature and humidity affects the cure time for pavement markings, so INDOT only refreshes pavement markings from May through October.

Warning signage is posted on all paint trucks during a painting operation. The rear truck displays a sign stating "Paint Crew Ahead"; the paint truck itself displays a sign stating "Caution Wet Paint"; and on multilane highways a back-up truck has an arrow board pointing traffic out of the lane being painted, and a message board stating which lane is being painted.  INDOT does not place temporary signage along highways to indicate that painting is underway.

Paint crews may complete many miles of pavement markings every day, so any road closure would be extremely long and affect many other state and local roads. To minimize disruption, INDOT crews position warning vehicles to alert drivers to avoid the paint crew or area if possible.

Depending on weather conditions, pavement marking paint will be tack-free one minute after application. However, high humidity or low air temperature will affect drying time.

For best results, wash your vehicle with soap and hot water as soon as possible.  Auto parts stores also have products that are designed to remove pavement marking paint from a vehicle.

Pavement marking materials include waterborne traffic paint, thermoplastic, preformed plastic, epoxy, and snowplowable raised pavement markers. To learn more about pavement markings, materials and application, click here.

With more than 100 maintenance units and over 1,000 employees, INDOT Maintenance performs numerous types of activities. While pothole patching is the most prevalent, they also repair traffic signs, clear debris on the roadway, pick up dead animals in state Rights of Way, repair traffic signals, refresh pavement markings, and many other operations on interstates, U.S. routes and state roads across the state. Additionally, certain maintenance activities may require special skills, or the presence of technicians or supervisors, to be completed as required to ensure both efficiency and public safety.

Both federal and state guidelines require a certain number of workers on a job site. This can sometimes result in the appearance that only a few people are working, but every person on the job site has a purpose.

If the pothole is causing a traffic safety hazard, INDOT maintenance crews will promptly repair it. Depending on the location of the pothole in the roadway, INDOT maintenance forces have up to 15 business days to repair a pothole. However, areas identified as traffic or safety hazards will be prioritized.

After years of traffic and winter freeze-thaw cycles, small cracks develop in roadway pavement. Moisture seeping in the ground beneath the pavement freezes when temperatures drop. The ground then expands and pushes up the pavement. With warmer weather, the ground returns to normal levels, but the pavement often remains raised, leaving voids between the pavement and the ground. When vehicles drive over the pavement, it collapses, creating potholes.

In warm weather, hot mix asphalt is used to fill potholes permanently. Hot mix asphalt (HMA) is a combination of liquid asphalt and aggregate. Precise proportions of asphalt and aggregates are blended together to produce hot mix paving. All quality controlled HMA mixtures used on INDOT road construction are required to be produced by a certified HMA plant. In winter, hot mix asphalt plants are closed, so cold mix asphalt is used as a temporary fix to fill potholes, until asphalt plants are re-opened and hot mix is available to make more permanent repairs.

The permanent hot mix asphalt filling used to fix potholes is not available during winter months, so a temporary cold mix asphalt filling is used. When the asphalt plants re-open in the spring, our maintenance crews go back and fill the potholes with hot mix, which is a more effective and permanent solution.

INDOT manages and maintains more than 11,000 centerline miles of interstate highways, U.S. highways, and state routes in Indiana. Pavement preservation activities include resurfacing, crack sealing, chip sealing, pothole repair and storm water drainage maintenance. To learn more about INDOT's pavement preservation program, click here.

Allow plenty of space between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you, drive slowly, and keep your eyes on the road. Change lanes to avoid potholes only when it is safe to do so. You should never drive on the shoulder to avoid potholes. The shoulder is reserved for emergency situations. On state roads, U.S. Routes and interstates, report potholes to the Transportation Services Call Center at 1-855-INDOT4U, or by using our Report A Concern on the portal. To learn more about safe driving tips, click here.

Hoosier Helpers will assist motorists on interstate highways by changing flat tires, fixing minor mechanical problems, and providing limited amounts of fuel. Hoosier Helpers also assist with traffic control, remove roadway accident debris, and provide emergency medical assistance. Click here to learn more about the Hoosier Helpers.

In general, Hoosier Helpers are available from 5:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Friday, and 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. However, INDOT may schedule Hoosier Helpers to patrol more hours during expected winter storms to provide emergency roadway assistance. Click here to learn more about the Hoosier Helpers.

The services provided by the Hoosier Helpers are free to motorists. GEICO is the exclusive sponsor of the Hoosier Helper freeway service patrol. The collaborative sponsorship is designed to create a long-term, supplemental funding source for the program. Click here to learn more about the Hoosier Helpers program.

Hoosier Helpers currently patrol interstates in central Indiana, northwest Indiana, and southern Indiana. Interstate highway signs designate the areas patrolled by Hoosier Helpers.

Click here to view specific coverage areas.

INDOT Hoosier Helpers is a Good Samaritan program, and GEICO is the exclusive sponsor of the Hoosier Helper freeway patrol service. Hoosier Helpers patrol the busiest interstates in the state in central Indiana, northwest Indiana, and southern Indiana in order to assist the greatest number of motorists given the available resources.

Click here to learn more about the Hoosier Helpers.

A Tort Claim is the claim process available to any citizen who has had personal injury or damage to their property due to the act or negligence of another party. The Notice of Tort Claim for Property Damage is filed with the Indiana Attorney General's office to evaluate its merits based on supporting evidence and investigation. A decision is made from the results of that investigation with a determination of liability and compensation.

A Notice of Tort Claim for Property Damage may be filed for any damage to personal property or personal injury that is believed to be caused by a state agency. This includes damage to personal vehicles, homes, property, or personal injury caused by a pothole, chip sealing operation, snow plow operation, road construction equipment, pavement-painting process, or due to state employee negligence/wrongdoing.

In addition to the completed State Form 54668, Notice of Tort Claim, you will also need to include (if applicable): copies of the accident/incident report, vehicle registration, paid receipts for repair or two estimates for repair, medical reports, photographs and any additional documentation in reference to the claim.

The Office of the Attorney General office will evaluate and investigate all evidence submitted with Tort Claims to determine if there was fault or negligence on INDOT's part, in order to authorize compensation for damages.

The completed Notice of Tort Claim Form, together with all supporting documentation, should be mailed to the Attorney General's office in the manner that they require. The mailing address is included on the upper right hand corner of the Notice of Tort Claim Form. The mailing instructions are also included on the form.

Citizens who have a claim for personal injury or property damage against the state of Indiana must submit either State Form 54668, Notice of Tort Claim for Property Damage, or make the claim in writing as prescribed in Indiana Code 34-13-3 and submit to the Indiana Attorney Generals Office for investigation. Click here to download a Tort Claim form. Follow instructions on the form for completing and submitting it to the Office of the Attorney General. All instructions and filing requirements are included on the Notice of Tort Claim form.

To follow up on the status of the Tort Claim that you have submitted, please contact the Office of the Attorney General Tort Claim Questions line at (317) 232-6350.

All claims against the state of Indiana (including all its agencies) are handled by the Office of the Attorney General. The Attorney General's office will evaluate and investigate all Notice of Tort Claim for Property Damage documents against INDOT to determine if there was fault or negligence on INDOT's part in order to authorize compensation for damages.

Indiana law gives you 270 days after the loss to file a Notice of Tort Claim for Property Damage.

You may use the INDOT Customer Service Portal, Report a Concern to request consideration for additional lanes to be added to an interstate, U.S. route or state road. Include the lanes that you are requesting (such as left turn only, or right turn only lane), the location of the roadway, and the reason for the request.

INDOT is committed to provide great service to all customers. Complaints, requests and suggestions that we receive either Customer Service Portal, Report a Concern or through the INDOT Transportation Services Call Center toll-free number (1-855-INDOT4U) are logged into our customer service database. Complaints on road conditions are reviewed and assigned to the appropriate INDOT location for investigation and resolution. Multiple factors go into determining how long it takes to resolve an issue, including the nature of the issue, if there are safety concerns, current weather conditions, and the availability of resources and materials. Urgent cases that involve public safety are prioritized and resolved as soon as possible. We will send a confirmation email to the customer once the issue has been investigated and provide the result of the investigation.

With the April 2017 passage of House Enrolled Act 1002, Indiana now has a sustainable plan to fund roads and bridges for at least the next 20 years. INDOT has an asset management plan for every state-maintained road and bridge – something almost no other state can claim. To view the five-year INDOT construction plan for each Indiana county which outlines infrastructure projects supported by the Next Level roads funding, click here. If you have additional questions, You may use the INDOT Customer Service Portal, Report a Concern, and we will answer your questions.

INDOT and its contractors follow federal and state regulations on the type of materials and procedures used when building roads and bridges. All materials meet quality control and quality assurance guidelines. These guidelines are all outlined in a manual called the Standard Specifications that is updated and released every year. To read more about the materials used in concrete, asphalt or aggregate pavements, visit the INDOT Standard & Supplemental Specifications page.

Cameras installed on Indiana interstates and U.S. routes can be accessed online through the INDOT Travel Information page. You may use CARS to access the cameras' viewing area. These cameras provide a real-time snapshot of traffic conditions and visibility along major roadways. INDOT does not capture or retain recordings of roadway traffic.

A fog seal is applied to a finished chip seal, which extends the life of a roadway surface for three to five years. Fog sealing is a light layer of liquid asphalt overcoat that helps settle the stone chips and reduce dust. Fog seal will dry within 15-45 minutes of application, depending on the weather and temperature.

Chip sealing projects treat the roadway surface with liquid asphalt material covered by crushed stone to provide a new surface. This treatment extends the life of a roadway surface for three to five years. It is an important component of INDOT’s pavement preservation program, which determines the optimum balance between preventive maintenance expenditures and capital expenditures. To learn more about the benefits of chip sealing and the chip sealing process, please visit the INDOT Chip Sealing webpage.

Roundabouts are far safer than traditional signalized intersections and have been identified as one of the safest types of intersection designs. They reduce the number of potential accident points within an intersection, reduce crash fatalities by up to 90 percent and reduce injury crashes by more than 70 percent. They also reduce traffic delays, fuel consumption, air pollution and construction costs, while increasing capacity and enhancing intersection beauty. To learn more about the features, history and benefits of roundabouts, please visit the INDOT webpage on roundabouts here.

Under Indiana law, culverts under private and commercial driveways are the responsibility of the property owner.

Citizens who have a claim for personal injury or property damage against the state of Indiana must submit either State Form 54668, Notice of Tort Claim for Property Damage, or make the claim in writing as prescribed in Indiana Code 34-13-3 and submit to the Indiana Attorney Generals Office for investigation. Click here to download a Tort Claim form. Follow instructions on the form for completing and submitting it to the Office of the Attorney General. All instructions and filing requirements are included on the Notice of Tort Claim form.

Check the INDOT CARS Program to see roads that are closed due to flooding or construction. When available, details will also be provided as to when flooded roads will re-open. The CARS Program is also available on the INDOT Mobile App.

Although motorists and pedestrians are often blamed for highway litter, there are many other sources, including household trash handling and placement, business dumpsters, loading docks, construction and demolition truck loads, and uncovered truck loads. Indiana has one of the lowest fines in the country for littering, and littering is one of the least enforced laws in the state. We are working with our state legislators to improve our laws to assist in minimizing this growing problem across Indiana.

INDOT maintains interstate highways, U.S. routes, and state roads. Enforcing anti-littering laws on Indiana roadways is the responsibility of local or state police.

Community groups or organizations may volunteer to help clean a stretch of roadway. The Adopt-A-Highway program is a collaboration between community groups and INDOT local offices to clean a segment of state road or US highway. INDOT area coordinators supply safety training, vests, road work signs, and trash bags to help get the job done while the local community group provides the manpower. In return, INDOT will place a sign on the portion of highway that the organization has agreed to clean the area. Visit the Adopt-A-Highway page for more details about the program.

Companies or groups that wish to sponsor a segment of an interstate highway may participate in the Sponsor-A-Highway program. This program allows sponsoring entities to hire a litter control company that has been approved by INDOT to perform litter clean-up every month. Sponsors benefit by having their company’s logo advertised on an acknowledgment sign along that segment of the interstate. Visit the Sponsor-A-Highway page for more details about the program.

You may report litter on interstate highways, U.S. routes, and state roads to INDOT using the Customer Service Portal Report a Concern.

Enforcing anti-littering laws on Indiana roadways is the responsibility of local or state police. You may report to law enforcement officers if you see someone littering on the roadways.

INDOT maintains interstate highways, U.S. routes, and state roads. Our crews will make every effort to promptly remove the carcasses of large animals when they pose a traffic or safety hazard. Dead animals are typically removed from within state Rights of Way between 1-16 business days, based on safety concern. An animal that is in the roadway, posing a safety concern to drivers, will have the highest priority.

Due to safety concerns, we advise against motorists stopping to pick up an animal carcass. If you would like to remove an animal carcass from a roadway, please contact your local or state police to have the animal tagged before removing it. Being in possession of an un-tagged animal could result in a fine.

Unless the animal is lying on the road, posing a traffic safety hazard and needs to be removed, INDOT crews are not equipped or trained to help with live animals. You may contact Animal Control, law enforcement or a local animal rescue organization to aid live animals on or along the roadway.

INDOT disposes of dead animals that are picked up from the roadway through incinerators. This is the best way, environmentally, to quickly and sanitarily dispose of dead animals.

Incineration is the most sanitary method to dispose of dead animals. Incineration reduces the potential for disease and enables INDOT to dispose of animal carcasses quickly, and sanitarily. Incineration also keeps other scavenger animals at bay, further reducing potential health hazards.

Citizens who have a claim for personal injury or property damage against the state of Indiana must submit either State Form 54668, Notice of Tort Claim for Property Damage, or make the claim in writing as prescribed in Indiana Code 34-13-3, and send to the Indiana Attorney Generals office for investigation. Click here to download a Tort Claim form. All instructions and filing requirements are included on the Notice of Tort Claim form.  Follow these instructions, and submit the form to the Office of the Attorney General.

Motorists who strike a deer should also consult with their insurance companies regarding a damage claim.

INDOT is charged with balancing safety, cost, and aesthetics for more than 40,000 acres along state highways. INDOT crews schedule mowing cycles based on geographic location and weather. These mowing practices are focused on maintaining vegetation at a safe height for driver visibility. Between mowing cycles, INDOT performs spot mowing as needed to improve sight visibility at intersections, to help with drainage, and to ensure the safety of drivers and pedestrians. This policy not only saves millions of tax payers’ dollars, but it is also good for the environment by preserving native wildlife habitats and native flora throughout the state, and by mitigating erosion.

• For urban areas, mowing is scheduled 5 times a year.
• For rural interstates, mowing is completed 3 times a year.
• For all other routes, mowing is completed 2 times a year.

When a traffic signal is out due to a power outage in the area, you may contact the utility company to determine when the power in that area will be restored. Most utility companies have a website that provides information about the outage, including when they anticipate power to be restored.

You may use the INDOT Customer Service Portal, Report a Concern to report a traffic signal timing issue on U.S. routes or state roads. Once the report is received, our maintenance crew will investigate the traffic signal for any possible malfunction. INDOT will perform a traffic study in order to justify a change in the traffic signal timing.

If you are reporting a traffic signal timing issue on a city street or county road, please contact your local city street department or county highway department.

There are a variety of reasons why INDOT may decide to place, improve, remove, or not place a traffic signal at a location. INDOT reviews recent accident rates as well as the amount of traffic moving along a corridor when determining whether a new signal is needed, or an existing signal should be modified or removed.

You may use the INDOT Customer Service Portal, Report a Concern to request a new traffic signal on U.S. routes or state roads. The request should include the type of traffic signal requested, the signal location, and reason for the request. We will then request a traffic study for investigation to determine if a signal is warranted.

If you are requesting a new traffic signal on a city street or county road, please contact your local city street department or county highway department.

INDOT maintains traffic signals on interstate highways, U.S. routes, and state roads. This maintenance includes repairing or replacing signals, replacing failed bulbs, and adjusting unit height, location, direction, and signal timing. INDOT is in the process of upgrading all yellow signal heads to black, with black backplates and reflective strips to improve daytime and nighttime visibility and safety. In general, INDOT follows the Federal and Indiana Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices criteria in the design and placement of traffic signals and signs. Specific placement of signals takes into account visibility requirements. To learn more about the design of traffic signals, visibility and placement guidelines, please visit the INDOT Traffic Light Design Manual .

The length of time that a light on a traffic signal stays or changes (cycle length and phase-change interval) depends on many variables. Traffic timing studies are performed in order to design the optimal timing for location of the traffic signal, volume of traffic, pedestrian traffic, intersection size, and signal controllers, such as push-button pedestrian detectors or vehicle loop pavement detectors. To learn more about the design of traffic signals and how signal timing is determined, read Section 77-5.07(01) Guidelines for Signal Timing.

If the signal is on flash in all directions, it typically means there has been a power outage. The signal will resume normal operation within 10-20 minutes.  When lights are flashing red in all directions, motorists should treat it as a four-way stop.

A flashing yellow arrow signal indicates that drivers may proceed with caution, and make a left turn if there are no oncoming vehicles. The flashing yellow arrow may be displayed before and/or after the protected green and solid yellow left turn arrows. Flashing yellow arrows improve traffic flow and reduce severe crashes by 25 percent. You may read more about Flashing Yellow Arrow Traffic Signals on the INDOT webpage.

Traffic signals have light bulbs behind each of the lights and turn arrows. When one of these light bulbs burn out, the corresponding traffic light or turn arrow will not light up. Light bulbs will be replaced by INDOT maintenance crews. Please report issues with traffic signals to the INDOT Transportation Services Call Center at 1-855-INDOT4U for investigation and repair of traffic lights on U.S. routes or state roads.

If you are reporting a traffic signal issue on a city street or county road, please contact your local city street department or county highway department.

The life expectancy of signs on interstate highways, U.S. routes, and state roads is approximately 18 years. Signs on these roadways are replaced according to that timeframe. If the sign deteriorates or is damaged sooner, it may be replaced.

The life expectancy of signs on interstate highways, U.S. routes, and state roads is approximately 18 years. Signs on these roadways are replaced according to that timeframe. If the sign deteriorates or is damaged sooner, it may be replaced.

In consultation with the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials and the Federal Highway Administration, INDOT directs numbering of all Interstates, U.S. routes, and designated state roads in Indiana. A state representative or senator can request that a section of highway be designated or dedicated to an individual by introducing a resolution that the specific section of road or bridge be so designated. Once the resolution passes both houses of state government, the road/bridge will bear the new designation and INDOT will install the appropriate signage. The naming of local streets and bridges is the responsibility of the local city or county government.

Old roadway signs are recycled. They are not made available to the public.

Logo Signs are signs used on interstates and highways to direct motorists to service and recreational information. Logo Signs contain a business name and logo, and directional information displayed on a blue background. To learn more information about logo signs including requirements and fees, please visit the Indiana Logo Sign Group website or call 1-800-288-LOGO.

Tourist Oriented Directional Signs (TODS) are guide signs for attractions and tourist services that are installed on state highways in rural areas. To learn more information about TODS, including requirements and fees, visit the Indiana Logo Sign Group website or call 1-800-288-LOGO.

To request consideration to remove or relocate a sign along an interstate highway, U.S. route, or state road, you may submit a request using the INDOT Customer Service Portal, Report a Concern . Please include the business address, a description of the sign, the exact location of the sign, and the reason for your request so that the request may be investigated.

INDOT will treat or plow interstate highways, U.S. routes, and state roads during and after each measurable winter storm. To report roads that need salt treatment or plowing, contact the INDOT Transportation Services Call Center at 1-855-INDOT4U or use the Customer Service Portal, Report a Concern.

During winter storms, INDOT plows every interstate highway, U.S. route, and state road every 2 to 3 hours until there is exposed pavement on the travel lanes. Heavy snowfalls or high winds that cause blowing and drifting may result in roads remaining snow-covered, even after snow plowing operations. In addition, snow plows often are not able to remove all packed snow or ice from a roadway.

INDOT clears snow off all interstate highways, U.S. routes, and state roads in Indiana according to the volume of traffic that travel each roadway. Roadways with heavier traffic, such as interstates, will be plowed first. Emergency routes are also prioritized to ensure that emergency vehicles will have quick access during severe weather.

The snow plow may be starting its designated snow route, on the way to its snow route, or driving to pick up salt, brine, or fuel. The plow drivers might be changing at the end of shift, or the plow may have a mechanical problem that requires repair so they are unable to lift the blade.

Please visit the INDOT Winter Operations web page for winter travel information, including weather precautions, road conditions, travel advisories, and weather updates.

INDOT monitors winter weather and highway conditions and will treat or plow interstate highways, U.S. routes, and state roads during and after each measurable winter storm. Each INDOT snow plow will complete its snow route approximately every 2-3 hours until there is exposed pavement on the travel lanes.

INDOT has more than 1,800 drivers and approximately 1,000 snow plow trucks working in shifts clearing more than 900 snow routes each winter season. On average, INDOT snow plows service more than 4.5 million lane miles on interstates, U.S. routes, and state roads each winter season.

INDOT plow drivers often work rotating 12-hour shifts, around-the-clock if needed, to clear ice and snow from interstates, U.S. routes, and state roads.

INDOT staff monitors multiple weather forecasts. Using these forecasts, INDOT may deploy more than 1,000 snow plows, and up to 2,000 drivers, mechanics, clerks and managers before predicted winter weather. These units work alternating 12-hour shifts, 7 days per week, if needed, to keep more than 29,000 lane miles of interstate highways, U.S. routes and state roads in Indiana as safe as possible.

Each unit is equipped to maintain roads at the appropriate level of service, even in the heaviest storms in a full callout situation. For lighter storms, partial callouts provide the appropriate level of service. INDOT districts also have the ability to call in additional trucks, snow plow drivers, and employees from surrounding districts when needed.

There is no prescribed salt or brine amount per storm as usage is determined by road and air temperature, amount of snow or ice on a roadway, and predicted snow fall amounts. On average, INDOT will use more than 280,000 tons of salt and more than 4.7 million gallons of brine in a winter season. INDOT will budget $17-$20 million for salt each winter season, depending on the severity of the weather.

Frost Law is a seasonal weight restriction on roadways. This law is designed to protect roads from damage, caused by heavy vehicles traveling during a time when the roads and the road bases are defrosting. INDOT does not issue frost laws, but the local counties may. Please contact your local government for more information on frost laws in your area.

INDOT maintenance staff may pre-treat interstate highways, U.S. routes, and state roads with salt or brine up to 72 hours ahead of a major winter event in order to ensure that the roadway is prepared for when snow begins to accumulate.

Pre-treating roads with salt or brine, up to 72 hours ahead of a major winter event, prevents snow and ice from bonding to the pavement. This enables our plows to remove snow more efficiently, and reduces cleanup efforts after a winter storm.

INDOT closely monitors the application and dispersal of salt and brine, a salt and water mixture, to reduce waste and environmental impact. Salt and brine are generally safe to both vehicles and the environment in applied amounts.

INDOT does not need to hire additional contractors to plow snow. Each INDOT district is equipped to maintain roads at the appropriate level of service, even in the heaviest storms. INDOT districts also have the ability to call in additional trucks, snow plow drivers, and employees from surrounding districts when needed.

Snow plows travel at 30-35 miles per hour in most cases. We understand that may be an inconvenience for motorists, but that is the optimum speed for snow clearing. Tandem plowing enables INDOT to plow two lanes at the same time, and is the most efficient and safest method to clear multi-lane roadways.

To file a complaint about an INDOT snow plow truck driver, you may use the Customer Service Portal, Report a Concern. Make sure to include the date and time of the incident, the location where it happened, including roadway name, city/town, or address, if parked, the license plate or the INDOT truck number printed on the door (if it was noted), and the details of the incident so that we may investigate and take appropriate action.

Citizens who have a claim for personal injury or property damage against the state of Indiana must submit either State Form 54668, Notice of Tort Claim for Property Damage, or make the claim in writing as prescribed in Indiana Code 34-13-3 and submit to the Indiana Attorney Generals Office for investigation. Click here to download a Tort Claim form. Follow instructions on the form for completing and submitting it to the Office of the Attorney General. All instructions and filing requirements are included on the Notice of Tort Claim form.