State Road 37 will be closed just north of Martinsville for several miles beginning January 2, as crews complete the final stretch of the I-69 construction project up to Indianapolis.

Drivers headed north will have to get off on Highway 39, then pick up Highway 67 north to Indianapolis.  They can either take State Road 144 to get back onto 37 or stay on 67 through Mooresville.

Martinsville Mayor Kenny Costin anticipates the detours will cause more delays and more traffic for people driving through town.

“They’re going to be frustrated, but they need to be excited, because it’s gonna be fantastic once we get through all of this,” Costin said.

INDOT estimates commuting times between Indianapolis and Bloomington will be reduced by an average of 11 minutes once the interstate project is completed.

Highway 39 has been repaved and a portion of it has been expanded to accommodate the increased traffic.

“That’s going to be four lanes till you get to the railroad tracks, at the railroad tracks is going to choke down to two lanes going out to the bridge and to 67,” Coston said.

The State Road 37 closure should last about a year.