Washington, D.C.  –  Congressman Peter Visclosky announced he has secured $22.4 million for the First Congressional District in the reauthorization Transportation Equity Act (TEA), H.R. 3550.   In addition to the funding, the bill contains open ended funding language for the South Shore Rail Road expansion. 

Visclosky said, “This money will go far to better our infrastructure.  The projects funded by this bill will create jobs here and spur economic development in the future.  Infrastructure is key to the economic health of the region and I will keep fighting for our fair share of federal funding.”

Visclosky secured $8.4 million for the construction of an interchange at 109th Avenue and Interstate 65 in Crown Point.  This interchange is critical because 109th is the only local road connecting Lake County at State Road 53 to Porter County at State Road 2.  The continued growth in Lake and Porter Counties has created a demand for increased accessibility between the counties.  This project will continue to encourage economic development in the region.

Visclosky said, “This interchange will facilitate travel between Lake and Porter Counties.  Transportation is key to economic development.  As populations increase in south Lake County and Porter County, people and goods must be able to travel with ease.  This project will do just that.”

Throughout Lake and Porter Counties, U.S. 30 is highly traveled and congested.  To elevate this congestion Visclosky secured $1 million to improve S.R.100 South in Porter County, which can serve as an alternate to U.S.30.  These improvements will address current traffic and the additional traffic expected from the new interchange at 109th Avenue to Interstate 65. 

In Whiting, Visclosky secured $1.3 million for reconstruction of Standard Avenue.  This project is a partnership between BP Amoco and the City of Whiting.  To meet Homeland Security guidelines, BP needs to reduce the access to their facility to two points.  Standard Avenue will continue to be utilized as an entry point to the refinery and the construction will help to secure one of the largest oil refineries in the world.  Standard Avenue also connects to East Chicago and this project will benefit traffic flow to and from ISG also.   Additionally, Standard Avenue is prone to flooding and this reconstruction will prevent that in the future. 

45th Avenue runs between Gary and Munster, three quarters of a mile south of Ridge Road.  Visclosky has secured $2.7 million for improvements 45th Avenue to provide Lake County with another east/west corridor to handle increasing traffic between Calumet Avenue in Munster, U.S. 41 in Highland and State Road 55 in Gary.  The proposed improvements would create a continuous turn lane on 45th Avenue.  This would allow the east bound and west bound lanes to facilitate increased traffic.

In Hammond, State Road 312 needs to be realigned to create two bridge structures over the South Shore and South Bend Railroad and over Hanover Street and the CSX transportation railroad.  Recognizing the safety hazards, Visclosky secured $4.2 million for the design and construction of the new structures.  These overpasses will  reduce the delay experienced by car traffic and also improve safety by separating the automobile traffic from the train traffic.  The realignment will alleviate safety problems that large trucks experience at the intersection of Sheffield Avenue. 

Samuelson Road in Portage runs under the CSX transportation railroad 2,000 feet north of Central Avenue.  Currently the underpass is one lane and vehicles must honk before entering the underpass to prevent accidents.  Visclosky has obtained $3.2 million in this bill to fund the expansion of the underpass to facilitate traffic in both directions.  This expansion will improve transportation safety and traffic flow within the City of Portage.  At the project’s completion, Samuelson Road will be two lanes and increased clearance to allow emergency vehicles to pass safely under the bridge. 

In Valparaiso, Silhavy Road between Vale Park Road and LaPorte Avenue functions as an alternate rout to State Road 49.  Visclosky secured $1.2 million to widen the north bound traffic to three lanes.   This expansion will more evenly distribute traffic and ease traffic flow. 

Historic Fowler is a four block area in need of revitalization.  Visclosky obtained $182,000 to upgrade the streets, curbs and sidewalks.  This funding is part of a larger project to attract and retain new business in the down town area.

Ross Industrial Park in Kentland is a fully functional economic hub.  However, the area lacked adequate access.  Visclosky secured $320,000 to improve Bailie Street to connect Ross Park to U.S. 41.   The proposed improvements will provide safe access to the park and will increase employment potential at the park.  

Lastly, Visclosky ensured that Transportation Bill included authorization language for the South Shore Railroad.  The language allows Visclosky to continue fighting to fund the modernization and expansion of the South Shore to Valparaiso and Lowel.  The authorization is open ended and does not limit the amount of money Congressman Visclosky can pursue in the appropriations bills.

Visclosky said, “I will continue to fight for funding not only for road projects to create economic opportunity but also for the South Shore Railroad.  All of these projects are integral parts of the economic future in Northwest Indiana.”