The City of Shelbyville is announcing a significant — but necessary — closure of North Riley Highway as part of CSX Railroad’s total rail and approach reconstruction project.
Beginning immediately following Memorial Day, from Tuesday through June 10, CSX will completely close North Riley Highway at the railroad crossing to perform critical infrastructure upgrades.
The official detour for this closure will follow Interstate 74 and State Road 44, east of Shelbyville.
While the disruption will be significant — especially for those who rely on North Riley Highway and State Road 9 as primary access routes to I-74 — the city emphasizes that both rail projects are being led by independent rail companies (CSX Transportation and Central Railroad of Indiana).
However, both railroads have coordinated with the city to minimize disruptions as much as possible.
“CSX was under no obligation to accommodate our school calendar, but they did,” said Shelbyville Mayor Scott Furgeson. “They gave the city two options: complete the work in April—while school buses were still traveling over the crossing daily—or wait until school was out. We advocated for the safer option, and CSX listened. That kind of cooperation doesn’t go unnoticed, and we sincerely thank them.”
These projects will fully reconstruct the crossings and approaches — areas that have long been the subject of citizen complaints. Though inconvenient in the short term, this work addresses those concerns and ensures long-term safety and smooth travel for both residents and freight transport.
Local Impact and Detours
The dual closures will particularly affect local commuters, industrial traffic, and residents near the project zones. Travelers are encouraged to plan alternate routes and allow extra time. The City acknowledges this hardship and is committed to transparent communication and mitigation where possible.
To ensure emergency services are minimally impacted, the Knauf Bridge will be accessible to EMS personnel only. This bridge will not be open to public traffic and is designated strictly for emergency use. Fire Station No. 2 will be engaged for north 9 emergencies due to close access to I-74.
Infrastructure Improvements
To maximize the efficiency of the closure, the City of Shelbyville will simultaneously perform maintenance on the North Riley Bridge Deck, making essential repairs that would otherwise require additional closures or lane restrictions.
“It’s not ideal to shut down such a major corridor, but since the road will already be closed for CSX’s work, we’re using the time wisely to repair our own infrastructure,” said City Engineer Tyler Comstock. “We’re minimizing future disruption by coordinating these efforts now.”
North Riley Gateway Project
This closure is part of the larger North Riley Gateway Project, a transformative infrastructure initiative aimed at improving safety, efficiency, and aesthetic value along one of Shelbyville’s most trafficked corridors. Additional phases include:
- Construction of interior traffic islands – currently underway, estimated completion in three weeks
- Installation of the North Michigan and North Riley Highway roundabout – beginning shortly after
- Final Phase: Isabelle Farms roundabout construction and total roadway resurfacing – scheduled for late summer
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