South Lake County speaks out about Illiana Expressway

Most of those in attendance cheered and applauded as one by one those who signed up to comment spoke out against the proposed highway, the alternate B4 route favored by some local officials and the Illiana Corridor study group’s preferred B3 route.

Nathan Kleefisch, assistant superintendent for the Tri-Creek School Corp., said both the administration and school board opposed any route of the highway and the negative impact it would have on the corporation and its students.

He cited the closure of north-south roadways, the adverse impact on school bus travel times, and the air and noise pollution that the B-4 route would generate next to the newly constructed $48 million Lowell Middle School.

“We actively oppose both routes,” Kleefisch said.

Only a handful of people spoke out in favor of the roadway. Randy Palmateer, executive director of Northwest Indiana Building and Construction Trades Council, and Mark Maassel, with the Northwest Indiana Forum, said they favored the economic development impact of the roadway and the jobs it would create.

Both also encouraged corridor study officials to work to minimally impact residents and property owners who may be affected by the project. Maassel said the 175 percent increase in population projected in the Tier 1 draft environmental impact study the highway would be necessary.

“No build is simply not an option,” Maassel said.

Lake County Councilman Rick Niemeyer said he fails to see the benefit the roadway will bring to Indiana.

“At this point I do not see an advantage for Indiana,” Niemeyer said.

The public forum was conducted by the Indiana Corridor Study Group including representatives from the Indiana and Illinois Departments of Transportation as part of the final steps of the Tier I draft environmental study. Comments received at the forum, along with those from a similar session Tuesday in Peotone, Ill., as well as comments provide in writing or online until Aug. 29 will be included in the study and used in selecting the final route.

The proposed highway is expected to alleviate congestion along Interstate 80 and save over 85,000 truck miles daily.

A final preferred route of the three still on the table — A3S2, B3 and B4 — will be selected by late 2012. Routes A3S2 and B3 travel the same path in Indiana north of Lowell.

Route B4 is the southernmost option and deemed the least feasible by the draft EIS.

In the Tier 2 final environmental impact study a comprehensive financial plan will be created that will detail the total cost of the project including land acquisitions, interchanges and overpasses.

Tier I assumes an interchange at all U.S. and state highways including State Road 55 thought that has not yet been finalized, said Greg Kicinski, director of project management for INDOT.

Most recent estimates put the total cost of the project somewhere between $1.3 and $1.6 billion, Kicinski said.

After the preferred alternate is selected, small group community meetings will begin with impacted landowners to address concerns and discuss acquisition.

Acquisition could begin as soon as 2013 for willing landowners in hardship situations wanting to sell. While funding has not been identified, the state does have money in its budget for land acquisition that can be used as part of that process. Condemnations for unwilling landowners could begin in 2014, Kicinski said.