Interstate 469
Encyclopedia
Interstate 469 is an Interstate Highway in the northeastern portion of the mid-western U.S.
state of Indiana
. It is an auxiliary route of parent Interstate 69
(I-69) that also carries portions of US 24
, US 30
and US 33
around the urban parts of Fort Wayne, Indiana
. In 2004, local officials named all thirty-one miles of I-469 in honor of the late former U.S. president Ronald Reagan
, but mistakenly used the misleading word Expressway
in the title (all main and auxiliary routes of the U.S. Interstate system
must by definition be fully access controlled freeways and not partially access controlled expressways).
96 on that parent route) and Lafayette Center Road in southwestern Allen County
. Proceeding east, the highway passes just south of Fort Wayne International Airport
before curving more to the northeast. At exit 11 (milepoint 11.57 miles (18.6 km)) US 33 exits and joins US 27
, with both of those routes heading south toward Decatur
and eventually Ohio
.
Next, I-469 curves north to bypass the suburb of New Haven
on that town's east side. At exit 19, located just southeast of New Haven at milepoint 19.44 miles (31.3 km), US 30 joins I-469. Then at the next exit (milepoint 20.89 miles (33.6 km)) US 24 departs, heading northeast toward Toledo
.
A few miles later, after crossing the Maumee River
, I-469 curves to the west-northwest. After a final turn to the west, it meets back up with I-69. There two lanes exit south to the parent route, concurrent with westbound US 30, back toward Fort Wayne. There are also exit ramps at this interchange to northbound I-69 toward Lansing, Michigan
and to Auburn Road in Fort Wayne (with no return access to I-469).
I-469 carries four 12 feet (3.7 m) travel lanes (two in each direction) with full left and right shoulders, separated by a concrete Jersey barrier
for its entire length. While the highway generally traverses through rural farmland south and east of Fort Wayne, it was designed with more of an urban profile to reduce the road's overall footprint, thereby mitigating environmental impacts.
since the 1950s, and with this growth comes the influx of commuter traffic intermixing with long-distance travelers. The first attempt at resolving Fort Wayne's congestion problems occurred with the construction of the US 30 (now SR 930
) bypass (later named Coliseum Boulevard) around the northern edge of the city in 1952, to divert east–west traffic around the central city. Originally a four-lane arterial highway with at-grade intersections, the western part of the bypass was eventually widened to six lanes. Coliseum Boulevard briefly provided congestion relief to Fort Wayne, but massive commercial and retail development along the bypass brought a resurgence of congestion in the 1960s. The first section of Interstate 69 was opened in October 1962, which provided a bypass to divert some north–south traffic to the west of Fort Wayne. While traffic in downtown Fort Wayne improved, congestion along Coliseum Boulevard continued to worsen with the opening of Glenbrook Square Mall
in the 1960s, and talk of a bypass to the east of Fort Wayne picked up steam in the late 1970s.
, 14
, and 37
.
Work began at the south end of the US 24 Bypass in 1986; the first 19 miles (30.6 km) to US 30 opened in 1989. In June 1989 the US 24 Bypass received the I-469 designation. However it was signed as SR 469, as required by the FHWA, until it was completed to the north junction with I-69 near SR 1 and Auburn Road in 1995.
Construction was halted in 1991 when crews unearthed a lock that was once used in the Wabash and Erie Canal
while constructing the interchange with US 24 east of New Haven. This discovery led to a major effort to preserve the canal, resulting in the stoppage of construction on I-469 while officials wrangled over how to proceed with building the highway without disturbing the canal site. Officials opted to move the old canal lock to the Indiana State Museum
, allowing construction to resume in 1992.
In 1993, an additional six miles (10 km) of I-469 opened between US 30 and SR 37
. The $121 million highway project was completed when the remaining six miles (10 km) from SR 37 to I-69 north of Fort Wayne opened in 1995.
INDOT had originally wanted to continue I-469 west of I-69 to create a complete beltway around Fort Wayne, but has placed these plans on hold indefinitely due to higher funding priorities, including the reconstruction and widening of I-69 through Fort Wayne as well as reconfiguring and widening for US 24 from I-469 to the Ohio state line.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
state of Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
. It is an auxiliary route of parent Interstate 69
Interstate 69
Interstate 69 is an Interstate Highway in the United States. It exists in two parts: a completed highway from Indianapolis, Indiana, northeast to the Canadian border in Port Huron, Michigan, and a mostly proposed extension southwest to the Mexican border in Texas...
(I-69) that also carries portions of US 24
U.S. Route 24 in Indiana
U.S. Route 24 In Indiana, US 24 runs east from the Illinois state line to Huntington. At Huntington, US 24 turns northeast and runs to Fort Wayne; it then overlaps Interstate 69 and Interstate 469 to bypass the city before entering Ohio at the state line east of Fort Wayne...
, US 30
U.S. Route 30 in Indiana
In the state of Indiana, U.S. Route 30 is an east–west four-lane divided highway across northern Indiana. It runs from the Illinois state line at Dyer to east of Fort Wayne at the Ohio state line. This is a distance of 151.8 miles ....
and US 33
U.S. Route 33 in Indiana
U.S. Route 33 is a mainly two-lane U.S. Highway running through northeast Indiana. The highway travels from southeast to northwest.-Route description:...
around the urban parts of Fort Wayne, Indiana
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Fort Wayne is a city in the US state of Indiana and the county seat of Allen County. The population was 253,691 at the 2010 Census making it the 74th largest city in the United States and the second largest in Indiana...
. In 2004, local officials named all thirty-one miles of I-469 in honor of the late former U.S. president Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
, but mistakenly used the misleading word Expressway
Expressway
Expressway may refer to:*Controlled-access highway, the highest-grade type of highway with access ramps, lane dividers, etc., for high-speed traffic*Limited-access road, a lower grade of highway or arterial road...
in the title (all main and auxiliary routes of the U.S. Interstate system
Interstate Highway System
The Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways, , is a network of limited-access roads including freeways, highways, and expressways forming part of the National Highway System of the United States of America...
must by definition be fully access controlled freeways and not partially access controlled expressways).
Route description
I-469 begins at I-69 (interchangeInterchange (road)
In the field of road transport, an interchange is a road junction that typically uses grade separation, and one or more ramps, to permit traffic on at least one highway to pass through the junction without directly crossing any other traffic stream. It differs from a standard intersection, at which...
96 on that parent route) and Lafayette Center Road in southwestern Allen County
Allen County, Indiana
As of the census of 2000, there were 331,849 people, 128,745 households, and 86,259 families residing in the county. The population density was 505 people per square mile . There were 138,905 housing units at an average density of 211 per square mile...
. Proceeding east, the highway passes just south of Fort Wayne International Airport
Fort Wayne International Airport
-Top Destinations:-Airfield infrastructure:As of 2006, the airport's main Runway 5/23's usable dimensions are long and wide while the grooved-surface dimensions are long and wide, large enough to accommodate the NASA Space Shuttle orbiter, Boeing 747s, and military air mobility and aerial...
before curving more to the northeast. At exit 11 (milepoint 11.57 miles (18.6 km)) US 33 exits and joins US 27
U.S. Route 27 in Indiana
U.S. Route 27 enters Indiana in southeastern part of the state south of the village of Liberty. At Liberty, US 27 turns north, paralleling the Ohio state line. It intersects Interstate 70/U.S. Route 40 at Richmond and continues north to Decatur...
, with both of those routes heading south toward Decatur
Decatur, Indiana
Decatur is a city in Root and Washington townships, Adams County, Indiana, United States. The city, which serves as the county seat of Adams County, takes its name after the prominent war hero Stephen Decatur, Jr., one of the captains of the original 6 frigates of the US navy...
and eventually Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
.
Next, I-469 curves north to bypass the suburb of New Haven
New Haven, Indiana
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 12,406 people, 4,900 households, and 3,415 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,522.0 people per square mile . There were 5,141 housing units at an average density of 630.7 per square mile...
on that town's east side. At exit 19, located just southeast of New Haven at milepoint 19.44 miles (31.3 km), US 30 joins I-469. Then at the next exit (milepoint 20.89 miles (33.6 km)) US 24 departs, heading northeast toward Toledo
Toledo, Ohio
Toledo is the fourth most populous city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Lucas County. Toledo is in northwest Ohio, on the western end of Lake Erie, and borders the State of Michigan...
.
A few miles later, after crossing the Maumee River
Maumee River
The Maumee River is a river in northwestern Ohio and northeastern Indiana in the United States. It is formed at Fort Wayne, Indiana by the confluence of the St. Joseph and St. Marys rivers, and meanders northeastwardly for through an agricultural region of glacial moraines before flowing into the...
, I-469 curves to the west-northwest. After a final turn to the west, it meets back up with I-69. There two lanes exit south to the parent route, concurrent with westbound US 30, back toward Fort Wayne. There are also exit ramps at this interchange to northbound I-69 toward Lansing, Michigan
Lansing, Michigan
Lansing is the capital of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is located mostly in Ingham County, although small portions of the city extend into Eaton County. The 2010 Census places the city's population at 114,297, making it the fifth largest city in Michigan...
and to Auburn Road in Fort Wayne (with no return access to I-469).
I-469 carries four 12 feet (3.7 m) travel lanes (two in each direction) with full left and right shoulders, separated by a concrete Jersey barrier
Jersey barrier
A Jersey barrier or Jersey wall is a modular concrete barrier employed to separate lanes of traffic. It is designed to both minimize vehicle damage in cases of incidental contact while still preventing crossover in the case of head-on accidents....
for its entire length. While the highway generally traverses through rural farmland south and east of Fort Wayne, it was designed with more of an urban profile to reduce the road's overall footprint, thereby mitigating environmental impacts.
Coliseum Boulevard and I-69
Several cross-country highways and railroads meet in Fort Wayne, making the city a regional transportation hub. The city has experienced significant growth and urban sprawlUrban sprawl
Urban sprawl, also known as suburban sprawl, is a multifaceted concept, which includes the spreading outwards of a city and its suburbs to its outskirts to low-density and auto-dependent development on rural land, high segregation of uses Urban sprawl, also known as suburban sprawl, is a...
since the 1950s, and with this growth comes the influx of commuter traffic intermixing with long-distance travelers. The first attempt at resolving Fort Wayne's congestion problems occurred with the construction of the US 30 (now SR 930
Indiana State Road 930
State Road 930 is a 900-series state highway entirely within greater Fort Wayne, Indiana.-Route description:SR 930 western terminus is at an interchange with Interstate 69, U.S. Route 30 , and U.S. Route 33 . SR 930 heads southeast on Goshen Ave. from the interchange to West Coliseum Blvd...
) bypass (later named Coliseum Boulevard) around the northern edge of the city in 1952, to divert east–west traffic around the central city. Originally a four-lane arterial highway with at-grade intersections, the western part of the bypass was eventually widened to six lanes. Coliseum Boulevard briefly provided congestion relief to Fort Wayne, but massive commercial and retail development along the bypass brought a resurgence of congestion in the 1960s. The first section of Interstate 69 was opened in October 1962, which provided a bypass to divert some north–south traffic to the west of Fort Wayne. While traffic in downtown Fort Wayne improved, congestion along Coliseum Boulevard continued to worsen with the opening of Glenbrook Square Mall
Glenbrook Square
Glenbrook Square is located at 4201 Coldwater Road, in Fort Wayne, Indiana.Built in 1966, and expanded in 1976, 1981, 1990, 1994, and 1998, Glenbrook Square annually receives over 15 million visitors, and is the only enclosed super-regional mall in northeast Indiana, as well as the second-largest...
in the 1960s, and talk of a bypass to the east of Fort Wayne picked up steam in the late 1970s.
Development and Construction of I-469
In 1978 plans were unveiled for relocating US 24 onto a new freeway alignment that would start at the existing US 24 east of New Haven, then proceed south and west to I-69 near Baer Field (now Fort Wayne International Airport). The intent of the US 24 Bypass was to provide a direct freeway connection from I-69 to the east side of Fort Wayne and connect to the planned US 24 Fort-to-Port highway between New Haven and Toledo. In 1981, the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) expanded the scope of the US 24 Bypass, extending the planned freeway north beyond US 24 to I-69 on the north side of Fort Wayne to relieve traffic on State Roads 1Indiana State Road 1
State Road 1 is a north–south state highway in the eastern portion of the U.S. state of Indiana. Its southern terminus is at U.S. Highway 50 in east-central Dearborn County, just east of Lawrenceburg. Its northern terminus is at U.S...
, 14
Indiana State Road 14
State Road 14 is an east–west road in northern Indiana. Its western terminus is at U.S. Route 41 in Enos, and its eastern terminus is at Interstate 69 in Fort Wayne....
, and 37
Indiana State Road 37
State Road 37 in the U.S. State of Indiana is a major route in Indiana, running as a 4-lane divided highway for 110 miles of its course....
.
Work began at the south end of the US 24 Bypass in 1986; the first 19 miles (30.6 km) to US 30 opened in 1989. In June 1989 the US 24 Bypass received the I-469 designation. However it was signed as SR 469, as required by the FHWA, until it was completed to the north junction with I-69 near SR 1 and Auburn Road in 1995.
Construction was halted in 1991 when crews unearthed a lock that was once used in the Wabash and Erie Canal
Wabash and Erie Canal
The Wabash and Erie Canal was a shipping canal that linked the Great Lakes to the Ohio River via an artificial waterway. The canal provided traders with access from the Great Lakes all the way to the Gulf of Mexico...
while constructing the interchange with US 24 east of New Haven. This discovery led to a major effort to preserve the canal, resulting in the stoppage of construction on I-469 while officials wrangled over how to proceed with building the highway without disturbing the canal site. Officials opted to move the old canal lock to the Indiana State Museum
Indiana State Museum
The Indiana State Museum is a museum located within White River State Park in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA. The museum houses exhibits on the history of Indiana from prehistoric times up to the present day. It has one of the four IMAX theaters in the state of Indiana.-History:The museum was started...
, allowing construction to resume in 1992.
In 1993, an additional six miles (10 km) of I-469 opened between US 30 and SR 37
Indiana State Road 37
State Road 37 in the U.S. State of Indiana is a major route in Indiana, running as a 4-lane divided highway for 110 miles of its course....
. The $121 million highway project was completed when the remaining six miles (10 km) from SR 37 to I-69 north of Fort Wayne opened in 1995.
INDOT had originally wanted to continue I-469 west of I-69 to create a complete beltway around Fort Wayne, but has placed these plans on hold indefinitely due to higher funding priorities, including the reconstruction and widening of I-69 through Fort Wayne as well as reconfiguring and widening for US 24 from I-469 to the Ohio state line.