INDOT personnel have been working around the clock since Saturday and are continuing to work cooperatively with neighboring communities, local officials and other state agencies including the Crawfordsville and Fort Wayne Districts of INDOT, staff and resources from INDOT Central Office in Indianapolis, and officials from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM).
New Detour Information
Westbound I-94 Detour Info:
Westbound I-94 wanting to go to through to Chicago can continue west on I-94 to I-90 with no tolls to Westpoint during this emergency flood situation.
Westbound I-94 wanting to access I-65 can take S.R. 49 south to U.S. 30 west to I-65
Eastbound I-94 Detour Info:
Traffic from Chicago can take I-90 east from Westpoint with no tolls to Lake Station/S.R. 51 to EB I-94 or through to the Portage toll plaza during this emergency flood situation
Or traffic from Chicago wanting to access northwest Indiana can travel south on Illinois I-394 south to EB U.S. 30
To bypass northwest Indiana: Traffic can bypass the flooded northwest Indiana area by taking I-57 to EB U.S. 24 to I-65 NB I-65 Detour Info:
Per direction of the Emergency Evacuation Operation Center (EEOC) and the Indiana State Police, traffic on NB I-65 can travel only as far north as U.S. 24 before being diverted to U.S. 24 westbound to either I-57 in Illinois to bypass northwest Indiana; or take NB U.S. 41 to U.S. 30 to access northwest Indiana. This is to prevent additional traffic on the already congested U.S. 30.
Mainline I-80/94 is still closed to through traffic in both directions due to high water. An update is listed below:
Flooded Areas on I-80/94
At Kennedy Avenue
Early reports indicate that water from the Little Calumet River overflowed its banks onto the Borman.
INDOT crews closed the sluice gates on Saturday, September 13 in anticipation of heavy rains. After the water spilled onto the Borman on Sunday, INDOT crews worked in cooperation with the City of Hammond to contain the river water on the west side of Kennedy where crews built a temporary dyke just west of Kennedy. INDOT crews also plugged drains and are currently pumping water off of the interstate directly into the Little Calumet River, east of the temporary dyke and are making some progress as the water is receding in this area.
At Grant Street
Early reports indicate there was a levee breech just east of Chase Street in the City of Gary and river water spilled onto the eastbound lanes of I-80/94 near Grant Street. This water continued to flood both east and westbound lanes of the Borman and INDOT had to close the interstate at this area to through traffic.
INDOT crews have the flood gates closed at Grant Street and have built a temporary dyke at Chase Street and along the interstate to contain water from the river. Crews are in the process of setting up pumps to pump water back into the Little Calumet River.
At I-65 Interchange
The Little Calumet River and the Deep River come together at the I-80/94 and I-65 Interchange in the southeast quadrant. With both rivers at flood stages water flowed onto the mainline I-80/94 and the ramps to both west and east I-80/94. The Interstate is currently closed and INDOT crews are currently pumping water from the ramps back into the Little Calumet River. Reports from the National Weather Service indicate that the Little Calumet River is still rising as well as the Kankakee River between Lake and Newton Counties.
As of 1:30 p.m. the following roads are closed:
Northbound I-65 between U.S. 24 in Jasper County and I-80/94 in Lake County. Detour: All traffic is directed to take U.S. 24 west to I-57 in Illinois to bypass the flooded Northwest Indiana area. Traffic wanting to access northwest Indiana can continue west on U.S. 24 to north on U.S. 41 to U.S. 30.
Eastbound I-80/94 between Illinois State Line and State Road 51 (Ripley Street) in Lake County
Detour: from Illinois - I-90 special arrangements; I-394 south to U.S. 30 east to State Road 49 (S.R. 49) north back to I-94; traffic can access EB I-80/94 and the Indiana Toll Road at S.R. 51.
Westbound I-80/94 between S.R. 51 in Lake County and the Illinois State Line
Detour: from Michigan - I-94 west to I-90 or S.R. 49 south to U.S. 30 west; traffic can access westbound I-80/94 at State Road 152 (Indianapolis Blvd.)
R. 51 between U.S. 6 and Fairview in Lake Station, Lake County
State Road 53 (S.R. 53) between 101st and 93rd in Crown Point, Lake County
State Road 55 (S.R. 55) between the towns of Thayer in Newton County and Shelby in
Lake County
Detour: Northbound S.R. 55 - S.R. 10 west to U.S. 41 north to S.R. 2 east and back to S.R. 55; Westbound S.R. 55 - S.R. 2 west to U.S. 41 south to S.R. 10 east and back to S.R. 55 Motorists in these areas should seek an alternate route. INDOT crews and ISP are on scene to redirect traffic around the closures in addition to signage.
Due to the heavy rainfalls over the past few days many state, city and county roads have water on the roadway and shoulders. When possible these areas are marked with "High Water" signage. When encountering a flooded roadway, INDOT urges drivers to remember "Turn around, don't drown." According to the National Weather Service, most flooding deaths occur in automobiles. Six inches of standing water is enough to cause passenger cars to stall and a foot of water will float many vehicles.
More information will be announced as available.
