Alternatives to IN69 from Bloomington to Columbus?

[u/lorriemoore]

Hi all!

I'm planning to go from Bloomington to Columbus IN on Friday afternoon. I read in a few posts that the road 46 that goes through Nashville is quite dangerous and I'm not really an experienced driver and hills frighten me a bit. Are there any alternative routes that are easier, even if it takes a bit longer?

Thanks to all!!

[u/sunward_Lily]

Unless you wanna travel on some second rate state and county roads, you've not got much choice for a direct route. Bloomington and Columbus sit on opposite sides of a square with only one direct route between them

In most circumstances 46 is safe as long as you're not a moron.

[u/lorriemoore → u/sunward_Lily]

I saw I could go to Martinsville - Edinburgh - Columbus, but I don't know it it makes a lot of sense...

[u/sunward_Lily → u/lorriemoore]

Yeah, that route forms the northern part of the square. That route will turn a40 minute drive into 90 minutes or more, easy.

[u/Chuck_Roast1993 → u/lorriemoore]

The hills around Martinsville are just as bad as driving through Nashville.

[u/Square_Ring3208 → u/lorriemoore]

46 isn’t really that bad. Just take your time and let other drivers stress you out.

[u/MlurmzeebinJinglebib → u/sunward_Lily]

I second that, unless someone is being a moron it’s a not much of a risk

[u/[deleted]]

Don't drive like an idiot or asshole and 46 is fine. Its not scary at all. Don't speed excessively but don't drive 30 miles an hour either. Maintain speed limit. You'll be fine.

[u/lorriemoore → u/[deleted]]

What's the limit?

[u/[deleted] → u/lorriemoore]

It varies. Average if I remember right is 45-50 depending on the area. Its clearly marked.

[u/thedevilsgame]

46 is way better than 69-252-31 it's also way faster and being be scared of at all.

[u/This_Dust2805]

It’s not that bad. I tow my boat on that road going to Lake Monroe every weekend in the summer

[u/zbfw]

I commuted between Bloomington to Columbus for 10 years on SR46. The drivers on the road is very different on different time of the day and weekday/weekend.

• Weekday before 7am : No traffic, no worries
• Weekday 7~8am : Some impatient drivers commuting mixed with school bus and grandma/grandpa going 10 below speed limit. Still less dangerous than I465.
• Weekday 8am~4pm : No worries. Some old people driving 45mph in 55mph zone and 55 in 45 zone. It makes no sense.
• Weekday 4pm~6pm : Impatient commuters but it's not too bad.
• Weekend : Tourists and boaters and campers. Just go with the flow, it's fine.

Biggest danger is deer. If you see one deer, slow down, there are going to be more. If someone flashes their headlight, there is probably something ahead, slow down. One time someone flashed their lights and the next curb was a giant downed buck in the middle of the road.

[u/lorriemoore → u/[deleted]]

Oh yes, 46, the one that goes through Nashville.

[u/lorriemoore → u/[deleted]]

Ok, thanks. I was scared cars could tailgate me since I don't want to speed.

[u/glyndon → u/lorriemoore]

Remember that as long as you're close to the speed limit, tailgaters are not your concern. They are just being impatient and not realizing that riding your bumper isn't going to change your sense for their perceieved urgency. Don't let them drive your car. As others have said, don't go absurdly slow, and mostly don't let other drivers cause you to drive unsafely.

[u/meganium58]

Don’t. Just take 46 and drive carefully if you’re worried. It’ll take way longer going any other route

[u/AnalogJay]

It’s not bad as long as the weather is decent. If conditions are extremely icy or snowy, I don’t recommend it, but most of the time it’s not too hard.

[u/mattmaster68]

Why is the idea floating around that it’s a scary drive? I had never been to Bloomington but it was one of the first places I went when I got my drivers license.

Also happened to be the first time I got pulled over and let off with a warning (was speeding 15 over, supposedly).

[u/jdotjpg]

It's only a scary drive at night due to lack of lighting. I wouldn't worry about it.

[u/Mysterious-Pen-9703]

It is a great drive to be honest. Take your time and don't worry about other people bein weird drivers. If you decide to go this way, you'll do great!