Ind. Code ch. 8-23-21

in effect

Ind. Code § 8-23-21-0.3 "Official detour route" defined

Sec. 0.3. As used in this chapter, "official detour route" means the path the department designates a motorist to use to reach a destination while a state highway, part of a state highway, or state highway bridge is closed to the public as a thoroughfare while under construction, while being repaired, or when closed for any other reason. As added by P.L.120-1995, SEC.1.

Ind. Code § 8-23-21-0.5 "Unofficial detour route" defined

Sec. 0.5. As used in this chapter, "unofficial detour route" means the path that the department in conjunction with local officials determines many motorists have taken or are likely to take in place of the official detour route because the path is or was: (1) a shorter distance; (2) a quicker trip; (3) a simpler route to follow; or (4) perceived as better by a motorist for any other reason the department recognizes in the department's rules; than the official detour route or other means the department has prescribed for a motorist to reach a destination while a state highway, part of a state highway, or state highway bridge is closed to the public as a thoroughfare while under construction or while being repaired by the department. As added by P.L.120-1995, SEC.2.

Ind. Code § 8-23-21-1 Maintenance requirement

Sec. 1. Whenever it is necessary for the department to designate and use a county highway as an official detour route, the department shall keep the highway used as an official detour route in a reasonable state of repair at all times while the highway is being used as an official detour route. As added by P.L.18-1990, SEC.230. Amended by P.L.120-1995, SEC.3.

Ind. Code § 8-23-21-2 Maintenance of unofficial detour route

Sec. 2. (a) When a state highway that was temporarily closed is reopened to traffic as a public thoroughfare, the department shall place the official detour route in the condition agreed to in writing by the department and the county before the official detour route was designated by the department. (b) When a state highway that was temporarily closed is reopened to traffic as a public thoroughfare, the department shall restore the route that has been determined as an unofficial detour route to a condition that: (1) is at least as good as the condition the unofficial detour route was in before it was determined by the department to be an unofficial detour route; or (2) satisfies specifications of a written agreement between the department and the county in which the unofficial detour route is located. (c) The department is required to restore only one (1) unofficial detour route for each official detour route under this section. (d) Except as provided in section 4 of this chapter and if the establishment of run arounds is determined to be the most cost effective alternative of all available alternatives, the department shall establish run arounds instead of detours and may install temporary structures or other facilities to render the run arounds usable by persons traveling over the highway. As added by P.L.18-1990, SEC.230. Amended by P.L.78-1990, SEC.1; P.L.120-1995, SEC.4.

Ind. Code § 8-23-21-4 Designation of official detour route

Sec. 4. The department shall designate a county highway as the official detour route if: (1) the executive of the county through which the county highway passes adopts a resolution consenting to the official detour route; and (2) under rules adopted by the department, the department determines that it is not more expensive to designate a county highway as an official detour route than it is to provide other means for a motorist to reach a destination. As added by P.L.120-1995, SEC.5.

Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://iga.in.gov/laws/2026/ic/titles/8Fetched: 10/17/2026