The original southern termination point of I-69 was to have been at the I-65/I-70 interchange (known locally as the "spaghetti bowl") on the northeast side of downtown Indianapolis, Indiana. In fact, the grading and overpasses for this connection's ramps can still be seen at that location. Later, the State of Indiana changed its mind (so it would not need to re-number the existing interchanges on the completed portions of the Interstate) and sought to designate the freeway connecting the spaghetti bowl to the I-69/I-465 interchange (approximately 11 miles) as "I-169". Due to a political fight over the inner-city portions of I-70 and I-65, it was decided to scrap I-169. In its place the state widened I-70 from 8 to 10 lanes and reworked its eastside interchange with I-465 to handle the additional traffic loads from the northeastern suburbs.
In 1998, Congress approved an extension of I-69 to the south and west from Indianapolis to the Texas-Mexico border.