Mark your calendars! There are two public hearings next week to provide a project update and share the environmental document for review and official comment.
Wednesday, July 23 Thursday, July 24
Purdue Northwest Student Union Irwin Community Center
Library, Alumni Hall 18120 Highland Ave., Homewood, IL
2233 173rd St., Hammond, IN
Both hearings are from 5:30 to 7 p.m. with a presentation at 6 p.m. CT. A verbal comment period will follow the presentation. Written comments may also be submitted at the hearings. Both hearings will start and end with an open-house portion with project team members available for discussion.
In addition, the presentation and comment session will be streamed live starting at 6 p.m. CT via Microsoft Teams.
Visit bit.ly/FlexRoadIndianaHearing to register for the streaming option for the July 23 hearing.
Visit bit.ly/FlexRoadIllinoisHearing to register for the streaming option for the July 24 hearing.
Written comments may be shared via the Q&A function on Teams. If verbal comments are preferred, they should be shared in person at one of the public hearings.
The formal comment period associated with the environmental document is underway. It started on Tuesday, July 8, and continues through Friday, August 8. The draft environmental document is available for review at several locations in the project area.
| Indiana University Northwest Anderson Library | 130 W 35th Ave., Gary, IN |
| Borman Expressway Traffic Management Center | 7701 Melton Rd., Gary IN |
| Purdue University Northwest Library | 2233 173rd St., Hammond, IN |
| Homewood Illinois Public Library | 17917 Dixie Hwy., Homewood, IL |
| IDOT Region 1 Office | 201 West Center Ct., Schaumburg, IL |
| Irwin Community Center | 18120 Highland Ave., Homewood, IL |
The draft document is also posted on the project website, IndianaFlexRoad.com.
Comments can be shared in several ways:
- Written or verbal comments can be shared at either public hearing or written comments can be shared during either streaming option.
- Comments can be shared online at IndianaFlexRoad.com.
- Comments can also be submitted to INDOT4U by calling INDOT customer service at 855-INDOT4U (468-6848) or at INDOT4U.com. Be sure to reference 80/94 FlexRoad.
- Written comments may be submitted by mail to Parsons, 101 West Ohio Street, Suite 2121, Indianapolis, IN 46204, Attn: Anna Wainscott.
80/94 FlexRoad is an INDOT project to improve traffic flow and safety along Indiana’s busiest interstate corridor. The 14-mile project corridor extends from I-65 in Indiana to IL 394.
Several improvements are planned. The Preliminary Preferred Alternative includes Transportation Systems Management and Operations (TSMO) strategies to maximize efficiency of the existing system, including ramp metering, variable speed limits, dynamic shoulder lanes, improved signage, and more.
Improvements at the Broadway Avenue interchange and the I-65 South exit focus on safety and mobility.
Work on fiber optic cable replacement is expected to begin in fall 2025. Construction on FlexRoad improvements is expected to begin in early 2026 and continue through late 2028.
TSMO strategies will be used along the I-80/I-94 corridor to maximize safety and efficiency of the existing system. TSMO is a proven tool to manage existing transportation systems, especially in urban areas where space is at a premium.
- Ramp Metering controls vehicle entry to match road capacity, improving merging and reducing traffic.
- Variable Speed Limits adapt to traffic, incidents, work zones, and weather to reduce congestion.
- Dynamic Lane Control uses overhead signals to open or close lanes and warn of closures or incidents.
- Dynamic Shoulder Lanes add capacity during peak traffic or in response to incidents.
- Event Management Strategies could incentivize tow companies; increase Hoosier Helper staff.
- Improved Signage and Queue Warnings inform drivers of current conditions ahead.
Combining all TSMO strategies and interchange modifications are anticipated to provide the greatest benefits to safety and mobility. Visit IndianaFlexRoad.com/Talking-TSMO to learn more about how TSMO strategies are making a big difference at the many locations where they are used.
