Governor Eric Holcomb has announced a $127 million grant award received by the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) through the National Infrastructure Project Assistance (MEGA) program to support the FlexRoad project along the 12-mile stretch of the Borman Expressway in northwest Indiana. Experts say the program will leverage strategies to improve travel time, increase reliability, enhance safety, and reduce carbon emissions on Interstate 80/94 in Lake County. INDOT Commissioner Mike Smith says there are 200-thousand vehicles per day and traffic is expected to increase 20 percent by 2040. Flex-Road is currently in its environmental and preliminary design phase and is expected to go to contractors in fall 2025 with construction activities anticipated to begin in 2026.
“The utilization of the Borman Expressway is a fact of life for countless residents of Northwest Indiana, commuters and commerce,” said Indiana First District Congressman Frank J. Mrvan. “I am thrilled that this federal investment will complement the serious dedication of Governor Holcomb and the Indiana Department of Transportation to alleviate congestion, enhance our commercial corridor, and improve the safety and travel conditions on the Borman Expressway. Let us continue to collaborate and ensure that this invaluable project is implemented as expeditiously as possible to benefit all residents, commuters and commerce in our region.”
“FlexRoad represents a transformational opportunity to improve mobility and safety, while also providing better access to employment hubs and destinations for those who live and work near the corridor,” said Governor Holcomb. “Strategies like dynamic shoulder lanes, variable speed limits, ramp metering and queue warning systems are innovative tools to help optimize traffic flow and make travel safer.”
“The Borman accommodates an average of more than 200,000 vehicles per day, making it the busiest interstate corridor in Indiana,” said INDOT Commissioner Mike Smith. “Existing traffic volumes are forecast to increase nearly 20 percent by 2040, exacerbating already high levels of congestion and traffic incidents. FlexRoad allows INDOT to optimize traffic flow and improve safety while minimizing impacts to nearby communities.”
The funding will supplement over half of the anticipated $212.5 million cost of the project, which will leverage Traffic System Management and Operations (TSMO) strategies to improve travel time, increase reliability, enhance safety, and reduce carbon emissions on the Borman, from the Indiana-Illinois state line to I-65 in Gary. TSMO strategies maximize the efficiency of existing transportation systems, a news release said.
INDOT said FlexRoad is currently in its environmental and preliminary design phase and is expected to let to contractors in fall 2025 with construction activities anticipated to begin in 2026. Four alternatives were identified during an earlier Planning and Environmental Linkage (PEL) study and are being further analyzed by the project team. Each alternative includes a combination of possible improvement strategies with increasing amounts of complementary benefits.
INDOT says it submitted its grant application in August with support from the Indiana Congressional delegation. The MEGA Program supports large, complex projects that are likely to generate national or regional economic, mobility or safety benefits as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. To learn more about the program, visit https://www.transportation.gov/grants/mega-grant-program .
