Hello everyone. For travellers coming to Gen Con via I-70 from the east, you'll want to be aware of a year-plus closing of part of that interstate:

• https://northsplit.com/maps/
  
• https://www.indystar.com/story/news/local/transportation/2021/05/10/i-70-i-65-indiana-traffic-indot-road-construction-indianpolis-north-split-interstate-closure/4944348001/
  
• https://www.wishtv.com/news/local-news/north-split-closure-forces-drivers-to-take-alternative-routes/
  
• https://northsplit.com/
  

Short description: This "north split" intersection of I-70 and I-65 will be closed for construction. This is on the northeast side of downtown Indianapolis. If you look on a map and center it on the Soldiers & Sailors Monument (in other words, that big circle drive where Columbia Club hotel is located), the north split will be roughly at the 1 o'clock position.

(Continued in multiple parts to avoid wall-of-text posts...)

IF YOU'RE COMING IN FROM THE WEST

... you're not affected (yay!). If you're flying in, the airport is very much on the opposite side of Indianapolis for all of this. People with hotels out by the airport won't even see this construction. If you're driving in on I-74 or I-70 eastbound, you'll be exiting for downtown long before the construction zone. You'll miss this entirely, save for extra traffic spilling over in some areas. 

IF YOU'RE COMING DOWN FROM THE NORTH USING I-65 SOUTHBOUND

... you'll be fine, you won't need to detour. You will still take the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. St. to West Street exit (exit #114) that'll take you right by the JW and convention center. But you will be affected by traffic. That exit is one of the detours for this construction. But the point is that the exit will still be open and you won't have to divert. Just plan for a lot of traffic congestion.

IF YOU'RE COMING UP FROM THE SOUTH USING I-65 NORTHBOUND

... you shouldn't be affected, depending on your specific route in Indianapolis:

• If you take the I-70 West exit (exit 110B), then you'll be driving away from the construction zone and things will be normal. You won't even see the construction.
  
• If you take the I-65 North/I-70 East exit instead, you can still drive as far north as Washington Street (Exit 111), then exit there and go west. The interstate is closed beyond Washington Street. 
  

Either way, you'll have access to downtown, no problem. 

IF YOU'RE COMING IN FROM THE EAST ON I-70 WESTBOUND

... then you'll be affected.

From the published information, I believe you'll be routed onto I-465, but I don't know if you'll be sent north or south. Regardless of which way it is, don't sweat it. You'll eventually cross I-65 and can get downtown that way:

• If you're sent to I-465 North, then keep going till you get to I-65. Then, refer to the I-65 Southbound post up above. That'll be a LONG detour, but it'll be an easy one. 
  
• If you're sent to I-465 South, then keep going till you get to I-65. Then, refer to the I-65 Northbound post above. 
  

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If you really want an alternate route, you can drop off onto US-40 westbound sometime before or after the I-465 beltway. But keep in mind that it'll eventually be city streets instead of 4 lane avenues, so you'll be going very.... very... V-E-R-Y slow and stopping for so many intersections. Plus, you'll be going through neighborhoods and think you're lost. You won't be, but it'll feel like it. :D

The upside is that you'll be driving by one of the local Jakomo pizza restaurants (it'll be on the right side of the street), so you've got a shot at eating at one of the good Indy spots that's not downtown.