Getting Numbers from the Cone Zone

BY THE NUMBERS

By The Numbers, a look at what’s in the news . . . by the numbers. These are just numbers, not suggestions that they mean more or less than what they are. We do not suggest that one number is connected to another. These are simply facts with no extraneous details, bias or slanted reporting. To borrow (and perhaps mangle a bit) a quote from legendary fictional detective Joe Friday, it’s just the numbers, ma’am!

Thanks to our friends at the Indiana Department of Transportation, we bring you a look at the numbers that make up the 2026 roads and highways construction and maintenance season. And like our friends at INDOT, we kindly ask all of us to slow down and pay extra attention when entering what we kiddingly call the Cone Zone. Truth is, without all those workers doing the good work they do, Indiana highways and byways would be much more challenging to drive on. So please keep that in mind while we peruse the cone zone . . . by the numbers!

$2,600,000,000

Yup, that number begins with a B. In Indiana this year, our government will be spending more than two-and-a-half billion dollars on Hoosier transportation infrastructure.

1,075

More than 1,000 projects are planned on state highways, U.S. routes and interstates this construction season in Indiana.

130

Of those 1,075 projects, 130 of them are designed to improve traffic flow and safety.

6,297

That’s how many miles of roads will be resurfaced or replaced.

2,441

And that’s how many miles will be chipped and sealed.

674

Yup, almost 700 Hoosier bridges will be replaced or repaired.

11

Pay attention if you don’t want to get a speeding ticket to this one.  Indiana’s worksite speed control pilot program, known as Safe Zones, continues to be an investment in safety for all Hoosiers. Research from Purdue University shows from August 2024 to July 2025, excessive speeding, or vehicles traveling more than 11 mph over the posted speed limit, decreased 34% for passenger vehicles and 41% for commercial vehicles in enforcement sites between the hours of 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. At individual sites, reductions of 70 to 80% have been documented.

4

There are four Safe Zones sites currently active in the following locations:

• Clear Path I-465/I-69 in Marion County
• I-65 in Jasper County 
• I-70 in Hancock County
• I-74 in Decatur and Shelby counties

To learn more about Safe Zones, visit SafeZonesIN.com.

16 and 1,500

These are the most important numbers. Sixteen people died and more than 1,500 were hurt in Indiana work zones, according to Secretary of Transportation and Infrastructure Matt Ubelhor. “While we’ve seen improvement in these numbers in recent years, there is still work to be done. We are asking for help from drivers to continue bringing these numbers down by slowing down, avoiding distractions behind the wheel, and driving unimpaired, especially in work zones.”
1

The top spot in the state – the Indiana Governor’s Chair – is occupied by one guy – Mike Braun. And here’s what he had to say about all this work.

“Drivers across the Hoosier State will encounter orange barrels and active work sites this spring and summer. Making improvements to our state’s transportation infrastructure is critical to boosting economic growth and quality of life, and it takes all of us slowing down and paying close attention to ensure safety for everyone on the road.”