Regional planners are taking the final steps this month to formalize the addition of lanes to Interstate 65 between U.S. 30 in Merrillville and State Road 10 in Roselawn.

The project to add a third lane in each direction was announced late last year by Gov. Mike Pence, with a budget of $70 million.

The first sections of the project, from U.S. 30 to State Road 2 in Lowell, were approved during the planning process for the Illiana Expressway. Planning and public comment for the final portion, to State Road 10, were done this year.

The Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission's Transportation Policy Committee approved that final leg, of just over 10 miles, Tuesday. The full NIRPC board is scheduled to vote on it May 19.

The Indiana Department of Transportation has identified four teams of construction companies and engineers qualified to bid on the project.

They are: K-Five Construction Corp. with lead engineer Janssen and Spaans Engineering Inc.; The Lane Construction Corp. with lead engineer Lochmueller Group; Rieth-Riley Construction Company, Inc. with lead engineer AECOM; Walsh Construction Company II LLC with lead engineer Parsons Transportation Group Inc.

INDOT expects to award a contract later this year.
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