Southeast Gateway
Reconnecting Communities Planning Study
A year-long project, in partnership with the City of Indianapolis and INDOT, that explored building a cap over the recessed I-65/I-70 “South Split” at Virginia Avenue.
Rethink Coalition, in partnership with the City of Indianapolis and with the support of INDOT, was awarded a highly competitive $2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) to study design alternatives for capping the Virginia Avenue “South Split” where the Inner Loop is already partially recessed.
Central to the study was examining how to create more livable, reconnected communities around the interstate while maintaining interstate commerce and regional travel.
I-65/I-70 Southeast Gateway
Planning Study Report
Rethink is excited to officially share the Indianapolis I-65/I-70 Southeast Gateway Planning Study. This has been a long journey, with many people contributing significant time, expertise, and thoughtful input along the way.
Highlights
The Big Opportunity
Indiana will rebuild this interstate over the next decade. The real opportunity is to rebuild it in a way that reconnects communities and unlocks new economic growth for downtown.
The Core Idea
This project involves studying options for building a cap over the recessed (or below-grade) section of the interstate in the Virginia Ave. area, creating new space for parks, housing, businesses, and public spaces while reconnecting neighborhoods. It serves as a demonstration of what we can do around the Inner Loop and West Street.
Why It Matters
This isn’t just about interstates. It’s about aligning infrastructure with the future of Indiana’s economy and the quality of life in our communities.
Economic Growth
Cities that have taken this approach have seen hundreds of millions—even billions—in new investment. This is about positioning Indianapolis for the next generation of growth.
Innovation Corridor
The study recommends developing an innovation corridor along West Street and the interstate spines connecting downtown universities, regional hospitals and life sciences institutions, corporate headquarters, 16 Tech Innovation District, and downtown sports and cultural destinations. Using Indiana’s Innovation Development District (IDD) statute allows growth along the corridor to help fund infrastructure and long-term investments, making West Street and the interstates a powerful spine for innovation and talent.
Community Benefit
When the interstate was built decades ago, it divided neighborhoods. This is an opportunity to reconnect them and create places for people again.
Community Priorities Driving the Design
The Study produced 3 design concepts. The preferred concept performs best across five priorities identified through community engagement:
Improve quality of life
Increase connectivity
Enhance safety
Reduce environmental impacts, and
Create economic development opportunities
Smart Investment
Our analysis shows the benefits outweigh the costs, generating more than a dollar in economic value for every dollar invested.
Long-Term Vision
Downtown Indianapolis already has extraordinary assets. This project provides a pathway to strengthen the connections between them so they can drive innovation and opportunity statewide while funding the necessary infrastructure improvements.
The Choice
We’re going to rebuild this infrastructure. The question is whether we simply replace it—or build something better for our communities.
Closing
This is Indiana’s competitive opportunity to turn infrastructure investment into economic growth, innovation, and stronger communities. The Southeast Gateway sets the stage. Now’s the time to build what’s possible.
Next Steps
The report recommends a phased path forward:
Continued community and stakeholder engagement
Additional corridor planning and feasibility analysis
Coordination with INDOT’s Inner Loop reconstruction planning, which is targeting the northwest segment of the Inner Loop first.