The next phase of the $250 million project to add travel lanes to the busiest portion of the Indiana Toll Road will begin on Monday, Feb. 25.

On that day access to and from Buchanan Street in Gary will be closed. Traffic westbound on the I-90 will not be permitted to exit at mile post 14A, while all traffic on Buchanan Street will be prevented from entering westbound I-90.

Motorists will be able to access westbound I-90 from Buchanan Street by utilizing U.S. Highway 12/20 east to Broadway Street and north to westbound I-90.

This closure is expected to last 10 months, according to a statement released on Monday by ITR Concession Company, which leases the Toll Road from the State of Indiana.

Construction and restrictions are scheduled to begin at 6 a.m. (CST) on Monday, Feb. 25. This will be a work zone safety area, however, and road shoulders will be utilized to enable two lanes of travel through the majority of the project.

This closure marks the second phase of the project, which is divided into three phases between mile post 10.6 and 20.27, one of the heaviest travels stretches of the Toll Road. Each phase includes pavement and structure enhancements to accommodate an additional driving lane in each direction.

Phase, from mile post 18.5 to 20.27, was completed on scheduled in December. The entire project is scheduled to be completed in 2010.

A speed limit of 45 miles per hour or less is in effect in all construction zones around the clock and motorists are reminded to watch for changing traffic patterns and to use caution, especially when workers are present. Motorists can be fined $1,000 for speeding in work zones and be sentenced to eight years in prison for reckless driving in a work zone.

Posted2/13/2008