Gov. Mike Pence announced plans for a $70 million Interstate 65 widening project Tuesday, adding a lane in each direction between U.S. 30 in Merrillville and Indiana 2 in Lowell.
Pence made his remarks while speaking in a NiSource meeting room in Merrillville where a large glass window faced traffic rumbling down I-65.
"If you're going to put up the 'Crossroads of America' sign, you better have the roads to back it up," Pence said referring to the state's nickname.
Plans for the widening emerged in 2013 during the debate over the Illiana tollway, a proposed 47-mile privately built toll road from Wilmington, Ill., to Lowell. When the Northwestern Indiana Regional Plan Commission voted on adding Illiana to its 2040 master plan, the I-65 widening was included in the package. Plans for Illiana fizzled after new Illinois Bruce Rauner suspended the road project in June, citing the state's dire fiscal shape.
Pence said Indiana is using funding from its Major Moves 2020 program, increased by the General Assembly earlier this year. On Dec. 17, the Indiana Department of Transportation will ask the State Budget Committee for approval to use the funds to begin the process of advertising for contractors and engineering design. Construction work could begin in 2017 with the completion set for 2018.
INDOT Commissioner Brandye Hendrickson said temporary lane closures on the interstate could be necessary, but she expected all the existing lanes to remain open during construction.
Interstate 65 already has three lanes north of U.S. 30.
"We feel it's the right investment at the right time," Pence said. "It will vastly improve a heavily traveled corridor."
In October, Pence proposed the 21st Century Crossroads roads program that would provide $1 billion in new funding over the next four years. His announcement came amid criticism from what Democrats described as the state's crumbling infrastructure.
In August, INDOT closed a 37-mile stretch of I-65 for a month between Lebanon and Lafayette because a bridge over Wildcat Creek near Lafayette had sunk several inches when workers from Walsh Construction began driving steel piles to widen existing piers. Motorists had to endure a lengthy detour off the highway.
When asked if increased scrutiny would be placed on design plans and contractors after the bridge problem, Pence said INDOT is careful in its bidding process. "Obviously, all of us were frustrated… we moved quickly and judiciously," said Pence. "We have very high standards in our bidding process."
In a release Tuesday, the Indiana Democratic Party said the widening program announced by Pence had already been approved and did little to address infrastructure problems.
"Gov. Mike Pence is doing literally anything possible to make it look like he's concerned about Indiana's crumbling infrastructure. Gov. Pence's recent 'plan' provides the bare minimum needed for Indiana to keep its D+ grade while also ignoring 90% of the state's roads," said Drew Anderson, communications directors for the state's Democratic Party.