US 30 closed in NW Indiana for emergency repairs after severe storms

MERRILLVILLE, Ind. (WLS) -- U.S. 30 will be closed between I-65 and U.S. 41 Wednesday night for emergency power line and traffic signal repairs, INDOT said.

The closures will begin at 10 p.m. U.S. 30 is expected to reopen at 10 a.m. Thursday. It's possible U.S. 30 will remain open to traffic with some lane restrictions, INDOT said, however, the repairs could result in a complete closure.

The severe weather that swept through Northwest Indiana Monday night resulted in downed power lines on U.S. 30 that permanently damaged multiple traffic signals along this stretch of U.S. 30. The overnight closure is necessary as NIPSCO repairs the downed power lines, and INDOT replaces all traffic signals.

The closure until 10 a.m. Thursday will impact the morning commute for many.

"I'm going to have to take a way different route to go to work. I usually get off on 65 and go down 30 to Meijer because that's where I work," said Sandy Kolodziej.

Elsewhere, power is still out on this block of apartment buildings in Worth, where utility crews from Tennessee were busy Wednesday night repairing power poles.

On Wednesday night, a candle and a good fantasy book were Kristin Swintek's only distraction from reality.

"Last night we played some board games by candlelight, and we've been reading and just kind of waiting it out," said Swintek.

Swintek has been lighting her stove by hand and living off of canned food, which is hard for her and her 85-year-old grandmother.

"It's not the best, but in the long run, you really don't have much choice. You just have to put up with it," said Cecelia Nieto.

NIPSCO said on Wednesday night that 18,500 customers are still without power in northwest Indiana, mostly in Lake and Porter counties.