St. Joseph County officials have approved a major overhaul to one of the region’s increasingly congested corridors, signing off on a $50 million diverging diamond interchange at Indiana 2 and Larrison Road.
Construction is set to begin in March and is expected to wrap up by November 2027. County leaders said the change is being driven by mounting traffic tied to major industrial development in the New Carlisle area — specifically the Amazon data center and the new electric vehicle battery manufacturing facility, both currently under construction.
Traffic has been steadily growing along Indiana 2, and officials said the current setup is not equipped to handle the coming surge. They view the interchange as both a proactive safety measure and a necessary investment to maintain efficient travel.
“Traffic along that stretch of Indiana 2 is already heavy so the interchange is viewed as a way to keep traffic flowing and improve safety,” officials said. They noted that federal funding will cover most of the project costs, easing the financial burden on the county.
Diverging diamond interchanges — though still relatively new in Indiana — are gaining popularity nationwide for their ability to reduce conflict points, lessen serious crashes, and improve traffic throughput without the need for additional lanes.
The project is expected to impact commuters throughout the region, and planning is underway to coordinate detours and maintain access during construction. Local leaders say the short-term inconvenience will pay off in long-term mobility benefits as the area transforms into a logistics and manufacturing hub.
Originally reported by Stan Maddus in Hometown News.
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