EAST CHICAGO -- Rebuilding the condemned section of the Cline Avenue Bridge is back on the table, but money is once again the issue as to whether it'll happen.
Representatives of the Indiana Department of Transportation said rebuilding the bridge wasn't ever really off the table at its Tuesday night open house at City Hall.
That surprised several people who were at a meeting in February where they said it was made clear that the bridge wouldn't be built.
"I was there when we were sold the 'Daniels Detour,' so when was rebuilding the bridge ever put back in?" said Lake County Councilwoman Christine Cid.
INDOT Project Manager Bill Meeks presented 12 alternatives, including the rebuild, to a packed room.
Of the 12, Meeks admitted that only four -- once again, including the rebuild -- would be optimal.
Rebuilding the bridge, while it would use much of the existing Cline Avenue, would cost $150 million and take a few years to complete.
Another possible solution, reconfiguring and rebuilding the on-ramps to Riley Road, would cost considerably less money, at $39 million, and would be done by fall of 2011, Meeks said.
That solution would keep traffic away from 129th Avenue, one of the roads that would feel the biggest impact with many of the alternatives.
The other alternatives, meanwhile, would affect neighborhoods, schools and traffic in ways that everyone doesn't want to see.
"There are trucks cutting through, trains stopping traffic," said Tom Hargrove, president of USW Local 1010. "The ocean vessels that were supposed to come through there is a pipe dream.
"With our fragile economy, we should rebuild the bridge and use the steelworkers to build it," Hargrove said.
Bill Wilkie of Hammond suggested using in-city roads, such as Railroad Avenue and McShane Avenue, as alternate routes since both are designated truck routes.
Meeks appreciated the input, though neither are state roads.
Frank Kresich, of East Chicago, added that paying $65 million for a ramp doesn't address the other money that will be lost.
"Look at the money we're losing from the casino, and what about the damage to the roads," Kresich said. After all that, the difference will be a few million anyway between that and building a new bridge, he said. "I can't believe they can't see it."
Meeks said until an environmental study is completed, no decision will be made.
That study should be completed by December, after which a formal public hearing will be held to go over the alternatives with the public again.
Public comments should be sent to INDOT's Public Hearing office, 100 N. Senate Ave., Room N-642, Indianapolis IN 46204-2249, or e-mailed to rclark@indot.in.gov.