New SR 249 Bridge Marks Milestone for Ports of Indiana-Burns Harbor

In Porter County, Ports of Indiana says state and local officials celebrated the opening of a new highway bridge this week for the Hoosier state’s Lake Michigan port. A news release said the new State Road 249 bridge marks a key milestone in the Indiana Department of Transportation’s $35.4 million multi-year project to double cargo capacity on the only public roadway linking Ports of Indiana-Burns Harbor and the Greater Chicago/Northern Indiana market. Ports of Indiana CEO Jody Peacock said in a release the bridge “is a critical connector for global trade.” Officials also said after the new State Road 249 bridge opening, the old one is closing to be rebuilt, and once that work is completed in 2026, State Road 249 will provide a four-lane connection to the Burns Harbor port, which has had only two-lane access since opening in 1970.