What will become of the Cline Avenue bridge is still up in the air.
State transportation officials had hoped to know more Thursday when the Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission passed a four-year transportation program and its landmark comprehensive regional plan.
But a proposed Illinois gaming expansion continues to stall Ameristar’s decision on whether the operator of East Chicago’s casino will donate $35 million to help rebuild the bridge.
Absent an official decision, both NIRPC plans reflect the two options on the table — demolish the bridge over the Indiana Harbor and Ship Canal and reroute traffic on Riley and Dickey roads or use Ameristar’s pending contribution to rebuild a downsized version of Cline Avenue with four lanes.
Including both options gives Ameristar more time to make a decision, Ameristar spokesman Reggie Dotson said. Ameristar floated the possibility of giving the donation after the bridge’s closure negatively impacted revenue at the casino, but whether the company will follow through with the money depends on the bill’s final outcome.
“We don’t know what the gaming landscape is going to look like,” Dotson said.
Indiana Department of Transportation officials are now meeting to decide how long the state will wait for Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn to determine what he’ll do with the gaming bill and for Ameristar to make its final decision.
East Chicago Mayor Anthony Copeland pushed INDOT to give a drop-dead date at Thursday’s meeting.
East Chicago has already signed an agreement critical to rebuilding the bridge by agreeing to take over responsibility of Riley and Dickey roads and the Dickey Road drawbridge back from the state in the event Ameristar makes the contribution. East Chicago previously transferred the roads and drawbridge to INDOT for use in the original plan to reroute traffic instead of rebuilding the bridge.
“I’m getting conflicting information told on my end,” Copeland said. “We have to hit marks … Every time a line is drawn it’s moved. When will Ameristar be told it’s now or never because East Chicago has kept its commitment. INDOT has kept its commitment. At some point the residents of East Chicago need to know what exactly is going to happen.”
Copeland’s worst fear is Quinn will ponder the gaming bill for 60 days, and asked INDOT LaPorte District Director Michael McPhillips if the state planned to wait that long.
“Mayor, to my knowledge we’re not,” McPhillips said.
The Federal Highway Administration agreed to the transportation program referencing the two options instead of a definitive answer on the bridge’s replacement, NIRPC Executive Director John Swanson said. The reroute and four-lane bridge options both passed eligibility requirements for inclusion in the document. However, federal officials did say once the environmental analysis for the Cline Avenue project is complete, a decision needs to be made.
Along with hearing updates on the Cline Avenue project, the NIRPC Board of Commissioners passed its first-ever comprehensive regional plan. The plan sets forth a 30-year vision for land use, transportation strategies, economic development and land conservation in Northwest Indiana.