Editing Interstate 469

{{short description|Highway in Indiana}}
{{good article}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2019}}
{{Use American English|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox road
| state = IN
| route = 469
| type = I
| alternate_name = Ronald Reagan Expressway
| map = {{maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|frame-align=center|frame-width=290|frame-height=290|frame-lat=41.060|frame-long=-85.140|zoom=10|type=line|raw={{Wikipedia:Map data/Wikipedia KML/Interstate 469}}}}
| map_custom = yes
| map_notes = I-469 highlighted in red
| length_mi = 30.83
| length_ref = <ref name="fhwa">{{cite web |last = DeSimone |first = Tony |date = October 31, 2002 |title = Table 2: Auxiliary Routes of the Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways as of October 31, 2002 |url = https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/national_highway_system/interstate_highway_system/routefinder/table02.cfm |work = Route Log and Finder List |publisher = [[Federal Highway Administration]] |access-date = October 4, 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170703182115/https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/planning/national_highway_system/interstate_highway_system/routefinder/table02.cfm |archive-date = July 3, 2017 |url-status = dead }}</ref>
| established = 1989
| history = Completed in 1995
| spur_type = I
| spur_of = 69
| direction_a = East
| terminus_a = {{Jct|state=IN|I|69|US|33}} at Lafayette Center Road in rural [[Allen County, Indiana|Allen County]]
| junction = {{Plainlist|
* {{Jct|state=IN|US|27|US|33}} near [[Fort Wayne, Indiana|Fort Wayne]]
* {{Jct|state=IN|US|30}} in [[New Haven, Indiana|New Haven]]
* {{Jct|state=IN|US|24}} in New Haven
}}
| direction_b = West
| terminus_b = {{jct|state=IN|I|69|US|24|US|30}} in Fort Wayne
| counties = [[Allen County, Indiana|Allen]]
| previous_type = I
| previous_route = 465
| next_type = IN
| next_route = 520
}}
'''Interstate&nbsp;469''' ('''I-469''') is an [[Interstate Highway]] in northeastern [[Indiana]]. It is an auxiliary route of parent [[Interstate 69 in Indiana|I-69]] that also carries portions of [[U.S. Route 24 in Indiana|US Highway&nbsp;24]] (US&nbsp;24), [[U.S. Route 30 in Indiana|US&nbsp;30]], and [[U.S. Route 33 in Indiana|US&nbsp;33]] around the urban parts of [[Fort Wayne, Indiana|Fort Wayne]]. It is {{Convert|30.83|mi|km}} in length. The Interstate was originally conceived as a bypass for US&nbsp;24 around the south and east ends of Fort Wayne. Due to heavy traffic on US&nbsp;30 through the city, support was gained to connect the bypass to I-69 on the city's north end. I-469 was given the name '''Ronald Reagan Expressway''' in 2005.

I-469 was the most expensive civic project in the history of [[Allen County, Indiana|Allen County]], costing over $207&nbsp;million (equivalent to ${{Formatprice|{{inflation|US-GDP|207000000|1995}}}} in {{Inflation/year|index=US-GDP}}{{Inflation/fn|index=US-GDP}}). As a bypass route, I-469 has been ineffective at helping with north–south traffic along I-69. However, the route has served effectively as an east–west bypass around the city, removing heavy truck traffic from passing through Fort Wayne.

==Route description==
[[File:I-469 East - Exit 0AB - I-69 US33 North (40221693010).jpg|left|thumb|I-469 at its western terminus with I-69]]
I-469 begins at I-69 exit&nbsp;296 and Lafayette Center Road in southwestern [[Allen County, Indiana|Allen County]]. The freeway heads east as a four-lane freeway, [[concurrency (road)|running concurrently]] with US&nbsp;33. The highway begins to turn southeast, passing through farmland. The route has a [[diamond interchange]] at Lafayette Center Road East and at Indianapolis Road, before turning due east and passing just south of [[Fort Wayne International Airport]]. The next interchange is at the northern terminus of the southern section of [[Indiana State Road 1|State Road&nbsp;1]] (SR&nbsp;1) and serves the airport via Bluffton Road. After curving northeasterly, I-469 has an interchange with Winchester Road and another with [[U.S. Route 27 in Indiana|US&nbsp;27]]. At the interchange with US&nbsp;27, US&nbsp;33 leaves I-469 heading south concurrently with US&nbsp;27.<ref name="INDOT 2012">{{INDOT map|year=2012|access-date=September 11, 2012}}</ref>

The freeway then curves northeasterly, with interchanges at Marion Center Road and Tillman Road. Then, I-469 passes southeast of [[New Haven, Indiana|New Haven]], with an interchange at Minnich Road. After the Minnich Road exit, the road begins to curve due north along the east side of New Haven. The freeway has an interchange with [[U.S. Route 30 in Indiana|US&nbsp;30]]/[[Indiana State Road 930|SR&nbsp;930]] at SR&nbsp;930's eastern terminus; US&nbsp;30 begins running concurrently with I-469. After the interchange at US&nbsp;30 is a bridge over [[Norfolk Southern Railway|Norfolk Southern]] railroad tracks and an interchange with US&nbsp;24. This is the eastern end of the concurrency with US&nbsp;24.<ref name="INDOT 2012" /><ref name="RR map">{{INDOT ref|title=RR Map|access-date=September 11, 2012}}</ref>

I-469 proceeds north, concurrent with both US&nbsp;24 and US&nbsp;30. The freeway crosses the [[Maumee River]] and begins to curve to the northwest, entering commercial areas. The next interchange is with the southern terminus of the northern section of [[Indiana State Road 37|SR&nbsp;37]], after which the route enters residential areas with a small amount of farmland. The highway then curves further west to an interchange at Maplecrest Road. At I-469's northern terminus, it has an interchange with I-69 and an exit-only ramp to Auburn Road; US&nbsp;24 and US&nbsp;30 continue to the south along I-69.<ref name="INDOT 2012" />

=== Traffic flow ===
I-469 is maintained by the [[Indiana Department of Transportation]] (INDOT). {{As of|2017}}, I-469's traffic count was 46,161&nbsp;vehicles per day, [[annual average daily traffic|on average]] between Maplecrest Road and I-469's northern terminus, 34,651 near its interchange with US&nbsp;30, 14,821 near its interchange with Marion Center Road, and 22,142 between the highway's southern terminus and its interchange with Lafayette Center Road East. By comparison, in 2017, I-69 saw over 60,000&nbsp;vehicles per day in a majority of sections between the termini of I-469.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://indot.ms2soft.com/tcds/tsearch.asp?loc=Indot&mod=|title=Traffic Count Database System|author=Indiana Department of Transportation|publisher= Indiana Department of Transportation |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180628170649/http://indot.ms2soft.com/tcds/tsearch.asp?loc=Indot&mod=|archive-date=June 28, 2018|url-status = live|access-date=January 16, 2019}}</ref>

A 2007 traffic count along I-469 found that only one section of the highway, between Maplecrest Road and I-469's northern terminus, saw traffic numbers close to anywhere along I-69's route around the city, while other sections are much more lightly traveled. John Stafford, who formerly worked for Allen County Plan Commission during planning for I-469, stated in 2008 that the highway was relatively new and would eventually spur growth. Since its construction, I-469 has been ineffective as a north–south bypass around Fort Wayne, in part because its length is {{convert|12|mi|km}} longer than I-69's route around the city. However, officials have stated that heavy truck traffic along Coliseum Boulevard (currently [[Indiana State Road 930|SR 930]]) has almost entirely disappeared, and some have stated that I-469 functions better as an east–west bypass around Fort Wayne.<ref name=":0" />

==History==
[[File:I-469 West US33 North Signs - MM8 (40221692820).jpg|thumb|I-469 west near milemarker&nbsp;8]]
In the 1950s, Coliseum Boulevard was built as a "circumurban" highway, and US&nbsp;30 was rerouted onto it to bypass the downtown area of Fort Wayne.<ref name="busy Coliseum Boulevard">{{cite news |url = http://www.news-sentinel.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090924/NEWS/909240315/0/FRONTPAGE |title = We Need Solution for Indiana 930 |last = Leininger |first = Kevin |date = September 8, 2009 |newspaper = [[The News-Sentinel]] |access-date = November 19, 2013 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170917171435/http://www.news-sentinel.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20090924%2FNEWS%2F909240315%2F0%2FFRONTPAGE |archive-date = September 17, 2017 |location = Fort Wayne |oclc = 8807796 |url-status = dead }}</ref> I-69 was constructed in the 1960s around the west side of the city;<ref name=":0" /> its first section opened in October 1962.<ref>{{cite book |title = History of the Interstate System in Indiana |volume = 4 |last = Ripple |first = David Alan |publisher = Purdue University |year = 1975 |location = West Lafayette, Indiana |at = Appendix, table&nbsp;41, p.&nbsp;876 |chapter = Chapters VII and VIII: Cost, Funding and General Benefits |doi = 10.5703/1288284313910 |id = Publication FHWA/IN/JHRP-75/29. }}</ref> In 1970, Eli Samaan created a transportation plan for Fort Wayne, including north–south and east–west expressways through the city, along with a route along the city's south and east edges. Fort Wayne mayor Ivan Lebamoff supported the east–west expressway, and the route was approved by the state. However, the estimated $110&nbsp;million needed for the project could not be allocated, so the project was scrapped. When the state began looking for a solution to traffic issues on US&nbsp;24 through Fort Wayne, plans for a bypass began. In large part due to heavy traffic on Coliseum Boulevard, which became known for its commercial properties and issues with [[Traffic bottleneck|bottlenecks]], the idea gained support.<ref name=":0" />

The original plans for the bypass were to connect I-69 to US&nbsp;24 east of Fort Wayne. By 1981, these plans were expanded to connect to I-69 on the city's north side. Samaan stated that he had to convince Governor [[Otis Bowen]] in 1978 to expedite construction of the bypass. An additional factor appeared as contracts for the project were being awarded, when [[General Motors]] announced construction of an automotive plant in 1984 on Lafayette Center Road, where the bypass was planned to interchange with I-69. According to Samaan, this helped to accelerate construction when the state decided it would be beneficial to the new employer in the area, stating "I never have seen anything move that fast in my whole life."<ref name=":0" />

Construction began in 1988, with the first section built between I-69 and Lafayette Center Road. In June 1989, the US&nbsp;24 bypass received the I-469 designation.<ref name=":0">{{cite news|url=http://www.journalgazette.net/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080720/LOCAL/807200426/|title=Bypassing the Bypass: After 20 years, Interstate 469 Remains a Lightly Traveled Loop|last=Lanka|first=Benjamin|date=July 20, 2008|work=[[Fort Wayne Journal Gazette]]|access-date=January 8, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110522122305/http://www.journalgazette.net/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20080720%2FLOCAL%2F807200426%2F|archive-date=May 22, 2011}}</ref> A temporary halt to construction occurred in 1991 when crews unearthed a [[Lock (water navigation)|lock]] that was once used in the [[Wabash and Erie Canal]] while constructing the interchange with US&nbsp;24 east of New Haven.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1N1-10852CA4D84E0925.html|title=Discovery of Canal Lock Halts Road Project|date=June 6, 1991|work=[[Post-Tribune (Indiana newspaper)|Post-Tribune]]|access-date=April 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180413185643/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1N1-10852CA4D84E0925.html|archive-date=April 13, 2018|url-status = dead|location=Crown Point, Indiana|url-access=}}</ref> Upon the highway's completion in 1995, its construction was the most expensive in Allen County's history, with a cost of $207&nbsp;million (equivalent to ${{Formatprice|{{inflation|US-GDP|207000000|1995}}}} in {{Inflation/year|index=US-GDP}}{{Inflation/fn|index=US-GDP}}).<ref name=":0" /> In 1998, US&nbsp;24 and US&nbsp;30 were rerouted onto I-69 and I-469.<ref name="busy Coliseum Boulevard" /> In 2005, I-469 was given the name [[Ronald Reagan]] Expressway, in honor of the former US president.<ref name=":0" />

==Exit list==
{{Jcttop|exit|county=Allen|state=IN|length_ref=<ref name="INDOT RPB">{{INDOT ref|title=RPB-2015|at=I 469|access-date=July 13, 2016}}</ref>|exit_ref=<ref name="I-469 exits">{{INDOT ref|title=Interchanges I-469|access-date=September 7, 2012}}</ref>}}
{{INint|exit
|location=Lafayette Township
|lspan=3
|ctdab=Allen
|type=concur
|mile=0.000
|exit=0
|road={{Jct|state=IN|I|69|US|33|dir2=north|city1=Fort Wayne|city2=Indianapolis}}
|notes=Western terminus; signed as exits&nbsp;0A (I-69 south) and&nbsp;0B (I-69 north/US&nbsp;33); western end of US&nbsp;33 concurrency; continues west as Lafayette Center Road; I-69 exits 296A-B}}
{{INint|exit
|mile=0.988
|exit=1
|road=Lafayette Center Road east}}
{{INint|exit
|mile=1.852
|exit=2
|road=Indianapolis Road
|notes=Formerly [[Indiana State Road 3|SR&nbsp;3]]}}
{{INint|exit
|location=Pleasant Township
|lspan=2
|ctdab=Allen
|mile=6.627
|exit=6
|road={{Jct|state=IN|SR|1|dir1=south|road|Bluffton Road|city1=Fort Wayne|city2=Ossian|city3=Bluffton|location4=[[Fort Wayne International Airport]]|extra=airport}}
|notes=Northern terminus of the southern section of SR&nbsp;1; serves [[Fort Wayne International Airport]]}}
{{INint|exit
|mile=9.213
|exit=9
|road=Winchester Road}}
{{INint|exit
|location=Marion Township
|lspan=2
|ctdab=Allen
|type=concur
|mile=11.572
|exit=11
|road={{Jct|state=IN|US|27|US|33|dir2=south|city1=Fort Wayne|city2=Decatur}}
|notes=Eastern end of US&nbsp;33 concurrency}}
{{INint|exit
|mile=13.265
|exit=13
|road=Marion Center Road}}
{{INint|exit
|location=Adams Township
|ctdab=Allen
|mile=15.772
|exit=15
|road=Tillman Road}}
{{INint|exit
|location=New Haven
|lspan=3
|mile=17.701
|exit=17
|road=Minnich Road
|notes=}}
{{INint|exit
|type=concur
|mile=19.421
|exit=19
|road={{Jct|state=IN|US|30|SR|930|dir1=east|dir2=west|name2=[[Lincoln Highway]]|city1=New Haven|city2=Fort Wayne}}
|notes=Signed as exits&nbsp;19A (US&nbsp;30) and&nbsp;19B (SR&nbsp;930) south; southern end of US&nbsp;30 concurrency}}
{{INint|exit
|type=concur
|mile=20.874
|exit=21
|road={{Jct|state=IN|US|24|dir1=east|road|Rose Avenue}}
|notes=Signed as exits&nbsp;21A (US&nbsp;24) and&nbsp;21B (Rose Avenue) north; southern end of US&nbsp;24 concurrency}}
{{INint|exit
|location=Fort Wayne
|lspan=5
|mile=24.575
|exit=25
|road={{Jct|state=IN|SR|37|dir1=north|name1=Maysville Road|city1=Fort Wayne}}
|notes=Southern terminus of the northern section of SR&nbsp;37}}
{{INint|exit
|mile=28.563
|exit=29
|road=Maplecrest Road
|notes=Signed eastbound as exits&nbsp;29A (south) and&nbsp;29B (north)}}
{{INint|exit
|type=incomplete
|mile=30.567
|exit=31A
|road={{Jct|state=IN|I|69|dir1=north|location1=[[Lansing, Michigan|Lansing, MI]]}}
|notes=Westbound exit and eastbound entrance; I-69 exit 315}}
{{INint|exit
|mile=30.822
|exit=31C
|type=incomplete
|road=Auburn Road
|notes=Westbound exit only}}
{{INint|exit
|type=concur
|mile=30.822
|exit=31B
|road={{Jct|state=IN|I|69|US|24|US|30|dir1=south|dir2=west|dir3=west|city1=Indianapolis}}
|notes=Eastern terminus; western end of US&nbsp;24/US&nbsp;30 concurrency; I-69 exit 315}}
{{jctbtm|exit|keys=concur,incomplete}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Attached KML|display=inline,title}}
* [http://www.kurumi.com/roads/3di/ix69.html#469in Kurumi.com entry]
* [http://www.interstate-guide.com/i-469_in.html Interstate-guide.com entry] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140708215004/http://www.interstate-guide.com/i-469_in.html |date=July 8, 2014 }}

{{3di|69}}

[[Category:Auxiliary Interstate Highways|69-4]]
[[Category:Interstate Highways in Indiana|69-4]]
[[Category:Interstate 69|4]]
[[Category:Transportation in Allen County, Indiana]]
[[Category:Transportation in Fort Wayne, Indiana]]