I-65 To Expand To Three Lanes In Northwest Indiana
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Indiana state officials have announced a plan to add a third lane to a busy stretch of Interstate 65, south of Merrillville.
A third lane would be added in both directions for nearly 15 miles on I-65, between Merrillville and Indiana State Road 2, near Lowell.
"The widening to three lanes of the interstate beginning here and going south, we believe, is the right investment at the right time," Gov. Mike Pence said at a news conference in Merrillville. "I'm pleased to say we're able to do all of this without raising taxes on Hoosier motorists or working families. The fact that Indiana – different from our neighbors just nearby – actually has a balanced budget, and strong reserves."
The expansion should relieve congestion on a road notorious for traffic jams.
The governor said the $70 million project would be one of several road construction projects in Indiana starting in 2017.
"The year 2017 will turn out to be the largest all-time year of construction at INDOT (Indiana Department of Transportation) in the history of Indiana," he said.
The I-65 project was slated to begin in spring 2017, and should be complete by fall 2018.