The second year of the four-year The Lloyd4U project overhauling high-volume intersections on Evansville’s main traffic artery is keeping pace with projections — and is launching its next phase.
Beginning in late June and lasting through November, eastbound Lloyd traffic is reduced to two lanes between Green River Road and Interstate 69 as Indiana Department of Transportation crews shift their focus to constructing dual displaced left turns at the intersections with Burkhardt Road and Cross Pointe Boulevard. As explained in a 2024 Evansville Business story, a displaced left turn involves a dedicated lane on the other side of the road, with a signal.
During construction, “all turning movements will stay the same, except for if you’re northbound on Burkhardt, you won’t be able to go east on the Lloyd,” says Nicole Minton, the public outreach manager for Lochmueller Group, the civil engineering firm coordinating Lloyd4U construction. “If you’re southbound on Burkhardt, there will be one thru-lane through the Lloyd, and you’ll still have left and right turn lanes onto the Lloyd.” The same directional restrictions are in effect at the intersection with Cross Pointe Boulevard.
Construction between Green River Road and I-69 will occur in three phases as work shifts from east- to westbound sides of Lloyd Expressway. Temporary lane restrictions occasionally may factor in as traffic is repositioned.
“It’s always a little tough when you make a transition. People aren’t used to the merge points,” Minton says. “After they settle into the new traffic pattern, it does flow better, so we encourage people to be patient and mindful. Give yourself a little more time.”
That piece of advice can benefit your fellow drivers, too. A 2022-23 report by research firm Zartico and commissioned by Explore Evansville found that half of visitors’ top 10 points of interest in the River City are on the stretch of Evansville’s East Side around Lloyd Expressway.
“Lots of people come to the East Side for shopping and dining, and not everyone has been plugged into the process or are getting text and email reminders letting them know what traffic changes there are. These people may be experiencing these intersections for the first time, and it’s good to show people grace who don’t know what’s happening,” Minton says. “We encourage being a good neighbor and letting people get in when they need to get in. I travel a lot for work, and I appreciate that as a visitor to other communities.”
Minton also urges drivers to remember their favorite businesses along the construction’s path. “The last thing we want is for any businesses to struggle with construction going on, so we put the call out to locals who are shopping and dining on the East Side: Don’t forget your favorites. Go the extra mile and detour to get to the places you usually would. We don’t want them to go away,” she says.
Meanwhile, construction is wrapping up on two other East Side intersections. The traffic light and left turn lanes at Vann Avenue have been removed, and the new displaced left turns at Stockwell Road opened June 18. Minton says the combination of law enforcement keeping watch and drivers staying alert has helped the new traffic patterns roll out smoothly.
“We’re very, very pleased with the way it’s opened,” she says. “You’re going to get into the left turn lane much sooner. People have been mindful and are taking the time to learn the new intersection. It’s intimidating your first time using a new intersection, but by the second time, it’s pretty intuitive, and you’ll recognize how much more efficient it is.”
Other Lloyd4U projects are seeing progress farther west. Roughly five miles of new pavement are being installed from the Posey County line east to Barker Avenue, and work continues to partially limit ramp access at Lloyd Expressway intersections with U.S. 41 and University Parkway through July. Piers also are going in for a new bridge over Tekoppel Avenue, a CSX railroad, and Carpentier Creek. “The beams will create a wider bridge over the train tracks,” Minton says. “Coming over the bridge right now, drivers are coming up on stopped traffic. The new bridge will be flatter now, offering a better line of sight.”
Minton encourages drivers to tune into Lloyd4U text and email alerts — sign up by texting “INDOT Lloyd” to 468311 or visiting INDOT’s website — “so that, come Sunday, you’ll get a message that says, ‘Here’s your week ahead, here’s what you can expect.’” The state’s TrafficWise also provides live traffic conditions.
