Indiana State Road 37

State Road 37 (SR 37) is a major route in the U.S. state of Indiana, running as a four-lane divided highway for 110 miles of its course.

State Road 37
SR 37 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by INDOT
Length229.4 mi (369.2 km)
ExistedOctober 1, 1926[1]–present
Southern segment
Length215 mi[2] (346 km)
South end SR 66 in Tell City
Major
junctions
North end SR 9 in Marion
Northern segment
Length14.4 mi[3] (23.2 km)
South end I-469 / US 24 / US 30 in Fort Wayne
Major
junctions
SR 101 in Springfield Township
North end SR 2 in Scipio Township
Location
CountiesPerry, Crawford, Orange, Lawrence, Monroe, Morgan, Johnson, Marion, Hamilton, Madison, Grant, Allen
Highway system
US 36 SR 38

At one time, the route ran from the southwest corner of the state to the northeast corner. In the pre-Interstate Highway era, Indiana 37 was the most direct route between Fort Wayne and Indianapolis. Interstate 69 has supplanted it as a through route, and State Road 37 now consists of two disconnected segments. The longer segment starts at Tell City on the Ohio River and ends in Marion in north central Indiana. The other segment in northeastern Indiana runs from Interstate 469 near Fort Wayne to the Ohio state line.

Route description

Southern segment

The southern section of Indiana SR 37 begins at a junction with SR 66 near the Ohio River in Tell City. Angling northeast, it enters the Hoosier National Forest then turns north until it meets Interstate 64 just north of State Road 62 at St. Croix. SR 37 now continues north beyond I-64, to eventually meet SR 64 near Eckerty. These two routes then run concurrently to the east for about 8 miles (13 km), where just north of English SR 37 departs to the north toward Paoli and SR 64 continues east toward Marengo. Just prior to reaching Paoli SR 37 leaves the National Forest. Once in town the route has a very brief (two block) concurrency with US 150 and SR 56 to loop around the town square before it leaves to the north, heading for Orleans and Mitchell.

Until reaching Mitchell, SR 37 is a two-lane rural route with relatively light traffic. However, from this point north to Indianapolis, the character of the road changes to become a major rural arterial route. At Mitchell the 4-lane divided highway begins with a short concurrency of SR 60 on SR 37 as both routes skirt the edge of town. From there, SR 37 continues north to US 50 on the outskirts of Bedford. US 50 and SR 37 then run concurrently, curving northeast to cross the East Fork of the White River before turning north to bypass the center of the city on its west side. After US 50 leaves to the east, SR 37 proceeds northward to Bloomington, where it now meets up with the new southern extension of Interstate 69 on that city's southwest side.

From that point in Bloomington heading north to Martinsville, SR 37 was converted from an expressway to a full freeway to allow for I-69 to run concurrently along its path and was completed October 31, 2018. Conversion of the stretch between Martinsville and a point just south of I-465 on the southwest side of Indianapolis is planned to follow, which will complete the southern extension of I-69 between Evansville and Indianapolis.

The present southern junction of SR 37 and I-465 is at the Harding Street interchange (exit 4 of the beltway). From there, the (unsigned) state road proceeds counterclockwise around the beltway to exit 37 (I-69/SR 37/Binford Boulevard) in the Castleton neighborhood of Indianapolis' northeast side. There it runs concurrent with the southern end of the original section of I-69 to the northeast for about 5 miles (8.0 km) to Fishers, before exiting to the north as a partially access-controlled divided highway.

Northeast of Noblesville, SR 37 reverts to a two-lane rural highway. Along the HamiltonMadison County line it runs concurrent with SR 13 until those routes split just south of Elwood. From there, SR 37 angles north-northeast to reach the present northern terminus of the southern section at SR 9 just south of Marion.

Memorial Designation

The portion of SR 37 between Tell City and I-64 has been designated as the Frank O'Bannon Highway, to honor the late former governor.

Northern segment

The northern section of Indiana SR 37 begins at a junction with Interstate 469 on the northeast side of Fort Wayne. From there it runs northeast approximately 20 miles (32 km), passing through Harlan, to terminate at the Ohio state line near the AllenDeKalb County line. The road continues on northeast in Ohio as State Route 2, to Hicksville, Ohio and beyond.

History

Southern section

SR 37 was once a section of the Dixie Highway from Indianapolis to Paoli.

In the 1950s, SR 37 ran north of Bloomington on the roads now called Cascades Drive and Old 37 to the northern end of Monroe County. South of Bloomington, SR 37 followed Walnut Street Pike, Fairfax Road, Valley Mission Road, Guthrie Road, and Kentucky Hollow Road (Old 37) to Oolitic. These were replaced in the late 1950s and early 1960s with the straighter sections called College Avenue and Walnut Street north of Bloomington and the sections called Walnut Street and Old 37 (Kentucky Hollow Road) south to Oolitic. As soon as the current 4-lane 37 was finished in 1976, a portion of Kentucky Hollow Road was abandoned north of Oolitic and a stone quarry that was alongside SR 37 for years consumed the road.[4][5]

SR 37 now turns to the east and is concurrent with SR 64 from Eckerty to English, where it exits the eastbound highway and rejoins the old route. The old, winding stretch of 37 from I-64 at Exit 86 north to English has been designated as SR 237. This change, which occurred between 2009 and 2014, also eliminated the SR 37 concurrency with I-64 between that route's exits 79 and 86.

Indianapolis

SR 37 originally ended at the junction of SR 35 (SR 135) and US 31 at Meridian and South Streets in downtown. The route that became SR 37 was originally numbered SR 13 in Marion and most of Hamilton Counties. SR 13 began at Meridian and Michigan Streets, then the junction of US 31, SR 13 and SR 367.[6]

SR 13 then followed Meridian St. (US 31) north to Fall Creek Parkway N. Drive, where it turned northeast. SR 13 then followed Fall Creek and Allisonville Road to Strawtown in Hamilton County, where what is now SR 37 was undesignated until 1940. In 1940, the portion from north of Strawtown to south of Elwood was made part of SR 13. From south of Elwood to Marion, the road that is now SR 37 was numbered SR 15.[7] By 1945, the entire route described above became a continuation of SR 37 from the south side of Indianapolis. SR 37 was designated along Michigan St. (westbound) and Vermont St. (eastbound) from Meridian St to West Street (at the time US 36, SR 29 and SR 67). SR 37 then turned south on West Street, until it became Bluff Road, at which point it was already part of SR 37. (This also removed the Bluff Road section of SR 37 from the state road system, removing the connection with SR 135.)[8]

In 1953, the state rerouted SR 37 to multiplex with US 36/SR 67 along 38th Street starting at Fall Creek Parkway.[9] (This would be part of the route the road would follow until decommissioning in 1999 or 2000.) The three roads would be multiplexed from 38th and Fall Creek, to 38th and Northwestern Ave. (now Dr. MLK Jr. St.), then south along Northwestern Ave. and West St. until the above-mentioned location at Michigan and West Streets.

In 1957, construction was started on the Noblesville Bypass of SR 37. This bypass was designed to go to the east side of Noblesville, through Fishers, and along a newly constructed road in Marion County to connect to Fall Creek Parkway just north of the then route of SR 37 (Allisonville Road).[10] One of the "quirks" in the design of the new SR 37 was a five-point intersection with SR 100, at the corner of Shadeland Road (now Avenue) and 82nd Street. By 1958, SR 37's Noblesville bypass was completed to the JCT SR 100 from the north. SR 37 then was rerouted along 82nd St to Allisonville, where it turned south to connect to Fall Creek Parkway has it had for the previous 35 years.[11] By 1959, the new route was completed, with the Allisonville Road route renumbered SR 37A.[12]

In the early to mid-1960s, two changes were made to SR 37. One which would eventually become part of I-69: interchanges were built at SR 100 and 116th St., as well as a connection to the under construction I-465. The second was the construction of an exit ramp (now Exit 4) on I-465 for the eventual construction of a Bluff Road bypass through southern Marion and northern Johnson Counties.[13]

In 1967, there were two SR 37s on the south side of Indianapolis: one along Bluff Road, one along the Bluff Road bypass. The two did not directly connect to each other at all.[14] By 1969, SR 37 was multiplexed with US 31 (along Meridian, North, Pennsylvania/Delaware, Madison and East Streets) to I-465/I-74 at what is now Exit 2. The route then was multiplexed with I-465/I-74 between Exits 2 and 4. This made the Bluff Road route abandoned in its connections to the state road system, so it was decommissioned. Some unofficial maps list Bluff Road as SR 37A for some time after this, although the state of Indiana never recognized it as such.[15]

By 1972, I-69 was completed along the SR 37 corridor from I-465 to where it had ended to that point at the JCT SR 37 Noblesville bypass (now Exit 205).[16]

SR 37 stayed much the same until 1999 or 2000, when all state and US highway designations were completely removed from inside the I-465 loop. SR 37 was then officially rerouted along I-465 along the east and south sides of Indianapolis. The current exit for SR 37 from I-465 is Exit 37.

Northern section

In 1940, the section of SR 37 from its current northern junction with SR 13 to Marion (west of its current routing) was designated SR 15. Another section that was to become SR 37, from Fort Wayne northeast to the Ohio border, was already designated SR 14.[7]

By 1945, SR 37 had been routed along its current route from Rigdon to south of Marion to the junction of SR 9.[8] SR 37 was then multiplexed along SR 9 from that junction to Huntington, then with US 24 from Huntington to Fort Wayne. The state then moved SR 14 from what became SR 37 to what was SR 230.[6]

In Fort Wayne, the combined US 24/SR 37 followed Upper Huntington Road (now Jefferson Boulevard) until it met up with SR 14 at Illinois Road. Just beyond that junction, the three routes split into a one way pair, with Jefferson Boulevard and Maumee Avenue handling eastbound traffic and Washington Boulevard used for westbound travel. East of downtown, SR 37 departed the pairing with US 24/SR 14, turning north onto Anthony Boulevard to cross the Maumee River. Roughly 1.5 miles (2.4 km) later, the route turned northeast onto Crescent Avenue, which becomes Stellhorn Road at Hobson Road/St. Joe Road as it curves to run due east. Finally, SR 37 turned (later curved) onto Maysville Road, angling northeast again and then passing the point where an interchange would eventually be built with the I-469 beltway (where the north segment of this state road now begins).

By 1980, the official multiplex along SR 9 and US 24 was decommissioned[17] (although there is a reference to SR 37 being multiplexed along I-69 around the west side of Fort Wayne in 1980, that reference was gone by 1982).[18] This created the northern section of SR 37, with its origin point located at Crescent Avenue and Coliseum Boulevard (then US 30, now SR 930) in Fort Wayne. When I-469 was later completed, the mileage between Coliseum Boulevard and I-469 was decommissioned and returned to local control.

Future

Construction for the I-69 Corridor Project on SR 37 in Monroe County (2017).

SR 37 between Bloomington and Indianapolis is slated to become part of the southern extension of Interstate 69. While this stretch is already a 4-lane partially access-controlled expressway, its present configuration still falls well short of Interstate freeway standards in that it contains numerous at-grade intersections, including 19 with traffic signals. The section between the recently built I-69 interchange north of Victor Pike in Bloomington to the curve south of Epler Avenue in Indianapolis will be upgraded to have full access control, and from that point a brief new terrain connection will be built due north to a new system interchange at I-465/I-74.[19] The segment between Bloomington and Martinsville was completed on October 31, 2018 and the section between Martinsville in Indianapolis is scheduled to be completed in 2024. Once construction is complete, SR 37 will be decommissioned between Bloomington and Fishers as it overlaps with I-69.

Beginning January 2, 2021, a portion of SR 37 was closed in Martinsville to allow for quicker construction of I-69 in the area.[20]

Major intersections

CountyLocationmi[21]kmExitDestinationsNotes
PerryTell City0.000.00 SR 66 west EvansvilleSouthern terminus of SR 37; southern end of SR 66 concurrency
SR 66 east Tell CityNorthern end of SR 66 concurrency
Troy Township SR 237 south Canneltonnorthern terminus of the southern section of SR 237
Anderson Township SR 145 north St. MeinradSouthern terminus of SR 145
Union Township SR 70 east DerbyWestern terminus of SR 70
St. Croix SR 62 Evansville, New Albany
I-64 St. Louis, Louisville
CrawfordEckerty SR 64 west HuntingburgWestern end of SR 64 concurrency
English SR 64 east / SR 237 south Sulphur, GeorgetownEastern end of SR 64 concurrency; northern terminus of SR 237
OrangePaoli US 150 west / SR 56 west Loogootee, JasperWestern end of US 150 and SR 56 concurrency
US 150 east / SR 56 east New Albany, SalemEastern end of US 150 and SR 56 concurrency
Orleans SR 337 southNorthern terminus of SR 337
LawrenceMitchell SR 60 east SalemSouthern end of SR 60 concurrency
SR 60 west GeorgiaNorthern end of SR 60 concurrency
Marion Township US 50 west Shoals, Washington, VincennesSouthern end of US 50 concurrency
Bedford US 50 east / SR 450 to SR 158 Bedford, SeymourNorthern end of US 50 concurrency
SR 58 east ColumbusSouthern end of SR 58 concurrency
Oolitic SR 54 west / SR 58 west AvocaEastern terminus of SR 54; northern end of SR 58 concurrency
MonroeBloomington114 I-69 south EvansvilleSouthern end of I-69 concurrency; exit 114.
115Fullerton Pike
116Tapp Road
117 SR 45 south / Bloomfield Road/2nd StreetSouthern end of SR 45 concurrency
118 SR 48 west / 3rd StreetEastern terminus of middle segment SR 48
120 SR 45 north / SR 46 Elletsville, Spencer, BloomingtonNorthern end of SR 45 concurrency; exits signed 120A (east) and 120B (west)
123College Avenue/Walnut StreetSouthbound exit, northbound entrance from Walnut Street
Washington Township125Sample Road
MorganWashington Township134Liberty Church Road
Martinsville I-69 southNorthern end of I-69
SR 39 to SR 67 northSouthern terminus of SR 39 (Interchange)
SR 252 east MorgantownWestern terminus of SR 252
SR 44 east FranklinWestern terminus of SR 44
JohnsonWaverly135.21217.60 SR 144 west MooresvilleEastern terminus of SR 144
MarionIndianapolis145.10233.524 I-74 west / I-465 west / US 36 west / US 40 west / SR 67 southWestern end of I-74/I-465/US 36/US 40/SR 67 concurrency.
2 US 31 south Greenwoodsouthern end of US 31 concurrency
54 I-65 Indianapolis, Gary, Louisville
49 I-74 east / US 421 south CincinnatiEastern end of I-74 concurrency; southern end of US 421 concurrency
47 US 52 east CincinnatiSouthern end of US 52 concurrency
46 US 40 east DaytonEastern end of US 40 concurrency
44 I-70 Indianapolis, St. Louis, Dayton, Columbus
Lawrence42 US 36 east / SR 67 north PendletonEastern end of US 36/SR 67 concurrency
Indianapolis165.69266.6537
200
I-69 / I-465 west / US 31 north / US 52 west / US 421 northEastern end of I-465 concurrency; northern end of US 52/US 421 concurrency; southern terminus of I-69 concurrency
HamiltonFishers170.86274.97205 I-69 north Fort WayneNorthern end of I-69 concurrency
Noblesville175.04281.70 SR 32 / SR 38 Noblesville, Anderson, Pendleton
MadisonJackson Township186.76300.56 SR 13 south LapelSouthern end of SR 13 concurrency
Elwood193.04310.67 SR 13 north ElwoodNorthern end of SR 13 concurrency
195.73315.00 SR 28 Tipton, Elwood, Albany
GrantHackleman207.23333.50 SR 26 Lafayette, Hartford City, Portland
Marion211.77340.81 US 35 / SR 22 Kokomo, Gas City
214.23344.77 SR 9 Marion, AndersonNorthern terminus of the southern section of SR 37
Gap in route
AllenFort Wayne214.23344.77 I-469 / US 24 / US 30 / Maysville Road Fort Wayne, New HavenI-469 exit 25; southern terminus of SR 37's northern part.
Springfield Township230.16370.41 SR 101 Woodburn, Butler
Scipio Township234.37377.18 SR 2 east Hicksville, Bryan, ToledoOhio state line
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

State Road 37A
LocationIndianapolis to Noblesville
Length18.88 mi[22] (30.38 km)
Existed1959–c.1970s

State Road 37A (SR 37A) ran from Indianapolis to Noblesville from 1959 until the 1970s. Beginning sometime between 1957 and 1959, the designation SR 37A was first used for the old routing of SR 37 between Indianapolis and Noblesville.[23][24] The southern end of the road was moved to SR 100 in late 1963 or early 1964.[25][26] In late 1964 or early 1965 the route was shortened at the north end, with the new end being at an intersection with SR 32 and SR 38.[26][27] In late 1969 or early 1970 the designation of SR 37A in Hamilton County was removed.[28][29] The state highway commission removed the last segment of SR 37A in Marion County in ether late 1972 or early 1973.[30][31]

SR 37A (Allisonville Road) began at its southern terminus with its parent route, SR 37 (now Binford Boulevard), near the Indiana State Fairgrounds. The route traveled northeast crossing 52nd and 56th streets, Kessler Boulevard East Drive, and 62nd, 65th, 71st, 75th, and 79th streets, before it reached an intersection with East 82nd Street near Castleton Square Mall. The route then interchanged with Interstate 465 (I-465 Exit 35), followed by intersections with 86th, 91st, and 96th streets, then crossed into Hamilton County and the town of Fishers.

In Fishers, the route intersected East 106th Street near Indianapolis Metropolitan Airport. The route intersected 116th, 126th, and 131st streets, then passed by Conner Prairie Interactive History Park. The route then crossed 141st and 146th streets, entering the city of Noblesville. Just south of downtown Noblesville, Allisonville Road turned north and becomes South 10th Street. In downtown, the route reached an intersection with SR 32/SR 38 (Conner Street). North of downtown, the route once again turned northeast and became Allisonville Road. The route then intersected East 191st Street. After East 191st Street, the route turned east and crossed Cumberland Road. After Cumberland Road, the route turned southeast and reached its northern terminus at its parent route, SR 37 (Strawtown Pike) on the far north side of Noblesville.

CountyLocationmi[32]kmDestinationsNotes
MarionIndianapolis0.00.0 SR 37 / Binford BoulevardSouthern terminus of SR 37A (1959–1963)
Castleton5.38.5 SR 100 / 82nd StreetSouthern terminus of SR 37A (1963–1972)
5.69.0 I-465Beltway around Indianapolis
HamiltonDelawareNoblesville
township line
12.720.4 SR 234 west / 146th StreetEastern terminus of SR 234
Noblesville15.224.5 SR 238 east / Greenfield AvenueWestern terminus of SR 238
15.925.6 SR 32 / SR 38 (Conner Street)Northern terminus of SR 37A (1964–1972)
Noblesville Township18.930.4 SR 37 (Strawtown Pike)Northern terminus of SR 37A (1959–1964)
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

References

  • Moon, Roger (November 21, 2007). "New highway marks milestone for association". Times-Mail. Bedford, IN.
  1. "Road Numbers to Be Changed". The Hancock-Democrat. The Indianapolis News. September 30, 1926. Retrieved June 9, 2016 via Newspapers.com.
  2. Google (August 12, 2009). "Length of Indiana Route 37: Southern Segment" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved August 12, 2009.
  3. Google (August 12, 2009). "Length of Indiana Route 37: Northern Segment" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved August 12, 2009.
  4. Monroe County, Indiana (1964) [1954]. Map of Bloomington and Monroe County (Map). Monroe County, IN: Monroe County.
  5. Rand McNally (1963). Rand McNally 1964 Road Atlas (Map). Chicago IL: Rand McNally. p. 37.
  6. Indiana State Highway Commission (1939). Official Indiana Highway Map (Map). Indianapolis: Indiana State Highway Commission.
  7. Indiana State Highway Commission (1940). Official Indiana Highway Map (Map). Indianapolis: Indiana State Highway Commission.
  8. Indiana State Highway Commission (1945). Official Indiana Highway Map (Map). Indianapolis: Indiana State Highway Commission.
  9. Indiana State Highway Commission (1953). Official Indiana Highway Map (Map). Indianapolis: Indiana State Highway Commission.
  10. Indiana State Highway Commission (1957). Official Indiana Highway Map (Map). Indianapolis: Indiana State Highway Commission.
  11. Indiana State Highway Commission (1958). Official Indiana Highway Map (Map). Indianapolis: Indiana State Highway Commission.
  12. Indiana State Highway Commission (1959). Official Indiana Highway Map (Map). Indianapolis: Indiana State Highway Commission.
  13. Indiana State Highway Commission (1965). Official Indiana Highway Map (Map) (1965–66 ed.). Indianapolis: Indiana State Highway Commission.
  14. Indiana State Highway Commission (1966). Official Indiana Highway Map (Map) (1966–67 ed.). Indianapolis: Indiana State Highway Commission.
  15. Indiana State Highway Commission (1969). Official Indiana Highway Map (Map). Indianapolis: Indiana State Highway Commission.
  16. Indiana State Highway Commission (1972). Official Indiana Highway Map (Map) (1972–73 ed.). Indianapolis: Indiana State Highway Commission.
  17. Indiana State Highway Commission (1980). Official Indiana Highway Map (Map). Indianapolis: Indiana State Highway Commission.
  18. Indiana State Highway Commission (1982). Official Indiana Highway Map (Map) (1982–83 ed.). Indianapolis: Indiana State Highway Commission.
  19. Indiana Department of Transportation. "I-69 Evansville to Indianapolis Preferred Route". Indiana Department of Transportation. Archived from the original on May 23, 2006.
  20. Doerflein, Leeann (January 1, 2021). "SR 37 Closes Through Martinsville to Make Way for I-69". Daily Journal. Franklin, Indiana. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
  21. Indiana Department of Transportation. "INDOT Roadway Referencing System" (PDF). Indiana Department of Transportation. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 15, 2011. Retrieved April 18, 2011.
  22. AOL (September 18, 2015). "Length of Indiana Route 37A" (Map). Mapquest. AOL. Retrieved September 18, 2015.
  23. Indiana State Highway Department (1957). State Highway System of Indiana (Map). Indiana State Highway Department. OCLC 78547924. Retrieved August 27, 2016 via Indiana State Library and Historical Bureau.
  24. Indiana State Highway Department (1959). State Highway System of Indiana (Map). 1:680,000. Indiana State Highway Department. § G7–H7. OCLC 64590481. Retrieved August 27, 2016 via Indiana State Library and Historical Bureau.
  25. Indiana State Highway Commission (1963). Indiana State Highway System (Map) (1963–1964 ed.). 1:633,600. Indiana State Highway Commission. § G7–H7. OCLC 883418455. Retrieved August 27, 2016 via Indiana State Library and Historical Bureau.
  26. Indiana State Highway Commission (1964). Indiana State Highway System (Map). 1:640,000. Indiana State Highway Commission. § G7–H7. OCLC 65195866. Retrieved August 27, 2016 via Indiana State Library and Historical Bureau.
  27. Indiana State Highway Commission (1965). Indiana State Highway System (Map) (1965–1966 ed.). 1:630,980. Indiana State Highway Commission. § G7–H7. OCLC 53370381. Retrieved August 27, 2016 via Indiana State Library and Historical Bureau.
  28. Indiana State Highway Commission (1969). Indiana State Highway System (Map). 1:631,000. Indiana State Highway Commission. § G7–H7. OCLC 314731307. Retrieved August 27, 2016 via Indiana State Library and Historical Bureau.
  29. Indiana State Highway Commission (1970). Indiana State Highway System (Map) (1970–1971 ed.). 1:640,000. Indiana State Highway Commission. § G7–H7. OCLC 65221477.
  30. Indiana State Highway Commission (1972). Indiana State Highway System (Map) (1972–1973 ed.). 1:640,000. Indiana State Highway Commission. § H7. OCLC 65333830.
  31. Indiana State Highway Commission (1973). Indiana State Highway System (Map) (1973–1974 ed.). 1:633,900. Indiana State Highway Commission. § H7. OCLC 501330315, 65333444.
  32. Google (August 25, 2016). "Route of Former SR 37A" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved August 25, 2016.
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