HAMMOND — The Indiana Department of Transportation continued its efforts Wednesday to inform the public about its upcoming FlexRoad project, meant to improve traffic flow and safety along the Borman Expressway.
The proposed $290 million project is expected to begin with fiber optic work next year, with major construction anticipated to begin in 2026. FlexRoad covers 14 miles of the Interstate 80/94 corridor from the Interstate 65 interchange in Lake County to the Illinois 394 interchange in Cook County.
The INDOT meeting at the Hammond SportsPlex was the first of two public sessions on the FlexRoad project this week, with the second on Thursday in Homewood, Illinois. Indiana will accept public comments on the project through Sept. 16. Citizens may comment at IndianaFlexRoad.com.
The project, in its environmental analysis and design stage, is intended to reduce travel time, increase reliability and improve safety. Environmental impact hearings will occur either later this year or early 2025.
Addressing the public information session were Toby Randolph and Mindy Peterson, both with Parsons, the Indianapolis-based lead design firm on the project.
Peterson noted that FlexRoad “should make a difference in your community with this busy corridor.” She said that strip of the Borman draws 160,000 vehicles daily, with up to 200,000 near the state line.
Although public comments were not taken at the meeting, Peterson encouraged audience members to “give everything a chance, come in with an open mind.”
Randolph explained several project features, including ramp metering to control frequency of vehicles entering the roadway; variable speed limits based on real-time traffic incidents; improved signage and queue warnings to inform drivers of incidents ahead; and digital gantries spaced about every half mile to provide drivers with key information. Other improvements include pavement restoration and median shoulder replacement along stretches of the highway.
Fiber optic improvements are corridor-wide and support the digital signage that is part of FlexRoad.
The project involves significant potential improvements along the eastbound stretch of the Borman that includes the busy Broadway and I-65 exits and entrances:
• Three lanes from the Borman will continue to the I-65 south exit, without need to change lanes; currently there are two lanes that do so.
• An existing auxiliary lane between Grant Street and Broadway will continue as a fifth lane.
• The existing northbound ramp along Broadway will be removed.
• An additional "option lane" will allow drivers to continue along I-80/94 or take I-65 south.
• A "dynamic shoulder lane" will offer additional capacity through the I-65 interchange.
• The exit ramp to I-65 south will be expanded to three lanes, with four lanes continuing on I-80/94 east.
The project is expected to be completed in late 2028. During construction, INDOT officials reported, four lanes of the Borman will be open in both directions most of the time. A minimum of three lanes of I-80/94 will be open in both directions during overnight work. The eastbound Borman to southbound I-65 is expected to maintain two traffic lanes at all times. The project will result in other closures, including local roads adjacent to the expressway.
Local officials expressed optimism about FlexRoad.
“It’s a really good idea, but you know residents will have a hard time accepting it,” said Hammond Councilman Scott Rakos, D-6th.
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