Indiana State Road 66
Encyclopedia
State Road 66 is an east–west highway in six counties in the southernmost portion of the U.S. state
of Indiana
.
over the Wabash River
in New Harmony
and ends at U.S. Route 150
east of Hardinsburg
. It is a divided limited-access highway in the metropolitan Evansville
area and also between the unincorporated communities of Yankeetown
and Hatfield
. For the most part, however, State Road 66 is undivided rural highway following the Ohio River
, and a large portion of its route (from just east of Newburgh
to State Road 62 at Sulphur
) carries the designation of the Ohio River Scenic Byway.
is a mix of both stoplights and single-point exit ramps. Despite the construction delays and need for improvements, the $160 million east–west expressway allows drivers to travel from one end of the city to the other with much greater ease. Plans exist to add additional diamond interchanges as well as a cloverleaf interchange with US 41.
plant east of Newburgh has led the Indiana Department of Transportation to widen the road (eventually being capable of expansion to six lanes) from State Road 261 to the western end of the present Yankeetown-Hatfield four-lane segment.
As of March 2009, work was well underway on the segment from State Road 261 to the Newburgh Lock & Dam. By the end of 2010, the project was complete from State Road 261 to French Island Trail (formerly Indiana State Road 662
), and work was progressing from that point east beyond Indiana State Road 61
to the existing four-lane stretch near Yankeetown
.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
.
Route description
State Road 66 begins at the eastern end of a toll bridgeNew Harmony Toll Bridge
The New Harmony Toll Bridge, also known as the Harmony Way Bridge, is a two-lane bridge across the Wabash River that connects Illinois Route 14 with Indiana State Road 66, which is Church Street in New Harmony, Indiana. The bridge links White County, Illinois with Posey County, Indiana...
over the Wabash River
Wabash River
The Wabash River is a river in the Midwestern United States that flows southwest from northwest Ohio near Fort Recovery across northern Indiana to southern Illinois, where it forms the Illinois-Indiana border before draining into the Ohio River, of which it is the largest northern tributary...
in New Harmony
New Harmony, Indiana
New Harmony is a historic town on the Wabash River in Harmony Township, Posey County, Indiana, United States. It lies north of Mount Vernon, the county seat. The population was 916 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Evansville metropolitan area. Many of the old Harmonist buildings still stand...
and ends at U.S. Route 150
U.S. Route 150
U.S. Route 150 is a 571 mile long northwest-southeast United States highway, signed as east–west. It runs from U.S. Route 6 outside of Moline, Illinois to U.S. Route 25 in Mount Vernon, Kentucky .-Illinois:In the state of Illinois, U.S. 150 runs from the Quad City International Airport at U.S...
east of Hardinsburg
Hardinsburg, Indiana
Hardinsburg is a town in Posey Township, Washington County, Indiana, United States. The population was 244 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Hardinsburg is located at ....
. It is a divided limited-access highway in the metropolitan Evansville
Evansville, Indiana
Evansville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Indiana and the largest city in Southern Indiana. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 117,429. It is the county seat of Vanderburgh County and the regional hub for both Southwestern Indiana and the...
area and also between the unincorporated communities of Yankeetown
Yankeetown, Indiana
Yankeetown is an unincorporated town in Anderson Township, Warrick County, Indiana....
and Hatfield
Hatfield, Indiana
Hatfield is an unincorporated town in Luce Township, Spencer County, Indiana. Its population was 813 at the 2010 census....
. For the most part, however, State Road 66 is undivided rural highway following the Ohio River
Ohio River
The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, of the Mississippi River. At the confluence, the Ohio is even bigger than the Mississippi and, thus, is hydrologically the main stream of the whole river system, including the Allegheny River further upstream...
, and a large portion of its route (from just east of Newburgh
Newburgh, Indiana
Newburgh is a town in Ohio Township, Warrick County, Indiana, United States, along the Ohio River. The population was 3,325 at the 2010 census, which also recorded a population of 342,815 for the entire Evansville metropolitan area.-Geography:...
to State Road 62 at Sulphur
Sulphur, Indiana
Sulphur is an unincorporated town in Union Township, Crawford County, Indiana....
) carries the designation of the Ohio River Scenic Byway.
Lloyd Expressway
The expresswayLimited-access road
A limited-access road known by various terms worldwide, including limited-access highway, dual-carriageway and expressway, is a highway or arterial road for high-speed traffic which has many or most characteristics of a controlled-access highway , including limited or no access to adjacent...
is a mix of both stoplights and single-point exit ramps. Despite the construction delays and need for improvements, the $160 million east–west expressway allows drivers to travel from one end of the city to the other with much greater ease. Plans exist to add additional diamond interchanges as well as a cloverleaf interchange with US 41.
Lloyd Expressway
In the spring of 1983, buildings in the expressway's path began coming down and construction officially continued on July 29, 1983. Motorists endured five years of detours and construction as the expressway was built through the heart of the city.Major widening
Increasing traffic on the segment of State Road 66 between Evansville and the AlcoaAlcoa
Alcoa Inc. is the world's third largest producer of aluminum, behind Rio Tinto Alcan and Rusal. From its operational headquarters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Alcoa conducts operations in 31 countries...
plant east of Newburgh has led the Indiana Department of Transportation to widen the road (eventually being capable of expansion to six lanes) from State Road 261 to the western end of the present Yankeetown-Hatfield four-lane segment.
As of March 2009, work was well underway on the segment from State Road 261 to the Newburgh Lock & Dam. By the end of 2010, the project was complete from State Road 261 to French Island Trail (formerly Indiana State Road 662
Indiana State Road 662
State Road 662 is a short east–west route that runs from Evansville toward Newburgh.-Route description:The western terminus of SR 662 is at an interchange with Interstate 164 . From there, SR 662 heads southeast toward Newburgh. The route is a four-lane surface street that has a mix of...
), and work was progressing from that point east beyond Indiana State Road 61
Indiana State Road 61
State Road 61 is a north–south route that runs through portions of three counties in the southwest part of the U.S. State of Indiana.-Route description:...
to the existing four-lane stretch near Yankeetown
Yankeetown, Indiana
Yankeetown is an unincorporated town in Anderson Township, Warrick County, Indiana....
.