INDOT said in a press release, “When the Indiana Department of Transportation is not clearing snow, ice or storm debris, crews are focused on maintaining and preserving the state’s roads and bridges, which mainly consists of pothole patching in the winter months.”
INDOT Spokesman Matt Deitchley said salt, chemical de-icers and abrasives were put down yesterday. In addition, crews are using plows and heavy duty equipment to break the snow apart. Deitchely stresses that road conditions may get worse before they get better.
Most roads across Northwest Indiana are now passable. However, it’s still too cold for road salt to be effective, so a sheet of ice should be expected on all roads across northwest Indiana. Conditions may get worse overnight when any thawing and melting that has occurred during the day may refreeze. Deichley adds icy conditions likely won’t improve until later in the day tomorrow when temperatures are expected to become more favorable for chemical melting agents and plows to achieve optimal results. Until then, INDOT is asking the public to refrain from any non-emergency travel. Those who must travel are asked to be prepared for these conditions before leaving and to adjust driving behaviors in order to arrive at destinations safely. Take it slow, leave plenty of room between vehicles and give plows ample space to work.
INDOT snow plow drivers are fighting a losing battle with Mother Nature as they try to clear snow from the roads. They advise blowing and drifting snow has intensified and icy conditions persist on nearly all roadways. All roads should be considered extremely slick and hazardous, and motorists are discouraged from driving in non-emergency situations.
The sub-zero temperatures are wreaking havoc on plow trucks and other heavy machinery, and this is forcing repairs in the midst of plow routes. Roads are also drifting shut soon after they are cleared by plows, and abandoned vehicles on some roadways are making it impossible to clear them. Additionally, road salt is less effective in these frigid temperatures, making it very difficult to remove hard-pack snow and ice without a spike in temperatures. INDOT officials stress that motorist safety is their primary concern when they ask people to stay off the roads. If you insist on being out, take it slow and carry a charged cell phone and emergency kit in your car. Remember, these road conditions are slowing response times for police, firefighters, EMTS and tow trucks. Frostbite and hypothermia can develop very quickly on exposed skin, and you may freeze to death before help arrives.
Indiana Department of Transportation spokesman Matt Deitchley notified WKVI Tuesday that the bridge was open to traffic. The last part of the project which included finishing the final surface of the roadway, lane striping and median work was completed in the past few days.
Indiana Department of Transportation spokesman Matt Deitchley stated that it could be next week before the bridge is open to traffic. The final surface of the roadway, lane striping and median work is left. If the weather cooperates, the opening could occur a little sooner than anticipated.
The weather was the reason why the project was pushed back from its original completion date in November.
Deitchley will notify WKVI when the crews are nearing the time when the bridge will be open. The bridge has been closed since June.
INDOT Spokesman Matt Deitchley says one bridge opening has been delayed while the other will be opening at the end of the month.
Indiana Department of Transportation officials want you to be safe on the roads and they’re going to do their best in keeping you safe on the roads. Their top priority is snow and ice removal of state highways and workers use all available resources to keep roads open.
The bridge beams were recently set and the deck has been poured. The rain this week has not set back the project as workers are able to do other aspects of the project during inclement weather.
Matt Deitchley, media relations director for INDOT, told WKVI that the U.S. 6 bridge work is progressing and crews are working on the walls to strengthen the support of the bridge and the piers. Continue reading
The road has been closed since early June so crews could tear out the old roadway and rebuild a new roadway. Indiana Department of Transportation spokesman Matt Deitchley said this construction was necessary for the new U.S. 31 interchange for U.S. 6.
A work moratorium on road construction will be in effect for the Labor Day weekend.
The Indiana Department of Transportation will remove road restrictions to ease traffic flow for an anticipated traffic increase. Some closures and restrictions will remain on larger projects, including the U.S. 35 bridge project just south of the U.S. 30 interchange in Starke County and the U.S. 6 bridge project which is two miles east of U.S. 35 in LaPorte County.
The moratorium will begin Friday, Aug. 30 in the afternoon and normal construction will resume in the morning hours of Tuesday, Sept. 3.
U.S. 31 will be down to one lane in each direction for a short stretch. This restriction will be in place until Monday, Aug. 19.
INDOT reminds you to use caution and consider worker safety when driving through a construction zone.
INDOT spokesperson Matt Deitchley stated that the project is extensive with the approximate completion date in November. The new bridge will be erected over existing railroad tracks which requires extra attention.
