For 63 miles (101 km), from the city of Terre Haute until it rejoins U.S. Route 41 (US 41) near Carbondale, it is a four-lane divided highway and replaces US 41 as the major north–south artery in this portion of the state.

This measurement is a calculation of the traffic level along a segment of roadway for any average day of the year.

[5][6] The southern terminus of the northern section is at an interchange with US 41, just north of the traffic light at Maple Avenue in Terre Haute.

The highway heads northwest as a four-lane expressway, paralleling the west bank of the Wabash River.

The route turns northwest bypassing Newport, followed by an intersection with the north terminus SR 71.

In 1973, the State of Indiana began to build a four-lane divided highway in this area, the rest of the road stayed two-lanes.