Indiana Department of Transportation contractor Force Construction will shift southbound traffic to new concrete pavement later this week in the Interstate 65 construction zone south of Columbus.

This will be the final shift to move traffic into its winter configuration.

Starting around 9 p.m. Wednesday, the left lane will close in each direction of I-65. The southbound closure will take place near State Road 46 and State Road 58, while the northbound closure will occur near mile marker 66.5 and State Road 46.

Later that night, lane closures will be moved to the right lane in each direction. Once complete, southbound drivers will travel on new pavement between State Road 46 and State Road 58, which will allow the contractor to complete bridge work at Opossum and Denois creeks during the winter months. The traffic shift is expected to be complete by 6 a.m. Thursday.

This configuration will remain in place until mid-March or early April when all southbound traffic will be moved to the northbound side of I-65 via crossover. This is when major construction will resume in southbound lanes between State Road 58 and State Road 46 as well as asphalt resurfacing on I-65 from the Driftwood River Bridge to U.S. 31 at Taylorsville and a deck overlay on the I-65 bridge over State Road 46.

The $65 million added travel lanes project is expected to be complete in the fall with additional work expected through 2023.