Is the Borman Expressway Design Flood Prone?

Is the Borman Expressway design flood prone?

The Northwest Indiana Times raises the question of does the Borman Expressway's new design contribute to flooding.

Indiana Department of Transportation officials defended their design of the newly reconstructed Borman Expressway, saying heavy rains were to blame.

But people who live and work nearby -- including Hammond's city engineer -- rejected the idea that the road was working like it should have.

Improper drainage, many locals contend, is what prompted the closure that backed up traffic for miles into Illinois and toward Porter County, and caused gridlock on may of the area's main arterial roads.

"I'm not an engineer, but I can tell you there's a problem. And it must be fixed," said Hammond City Councilman Dan Repay, whose district includes the flooded expressway and surrounding neighborhoods.

" The whole design of 80/94 has caused problems for residents from Hessville to Woodmar, and INDOT seems not to have a care in the world," Repay said.

Borman Expressway I-80 I-94 Flood interstate design flaw

Video -- Borman Expressway Flood

Video: Borman Expressway flood blocks eastbound lanes at Kennedy Avenue in Northwest Indiana. Crowds gather on Kennedy Avenue to watch INDOT flood clean up effort.



Borman Expressway Flood interstate I-80 I-94 Kennedy Avenue Chicago Northwest Indiana

Borman Expressway Update -- Three West Lanes Open While East Remains Flooded and Closed

Borman Expressway
flood update:

Three westbound Borman Expressway lanes are open Sunday afternoon. Eastbound lanes still completely blocked because of flood waters.

Borman Expressway Flood I-80 I-94 Kennedy Avenue interstate traffic jam Northwest Indiana

Borman Expressway Flooding Continues To Block Nation's Major East-West Route

Flood waters still block
the eastbound Borman Expressway
-- I-80 & I-94 -- Sunday morning.

Two westbound Borman Expressway
lanes remain blocked by flood waters
this Sunday morning.

The nation's major east-west highway -- interstates I-80 and I-94 -- remains crippled as its eastbound lanes remain blocked by high water that has flooded the roadway. Cars and trucks are being diverted onto Ridge Road -- a roadway that wasn't designed to handle the heavy demands of all of the interstate commerce that passes through The Region in Northwest Indiana.

Traffic heading westward to Chicago is getting through, but two lanes remain flooded and impassible this Sunday morning.

About this time, I'm sure the Borman Expressway's eastbound drivers were wishing there was an Illiana Expressway bypass.

Borman Expressway I-80 I-94 flood Northwest Indiana Highland Kennedy Avenue interstate