U.S. Rep. Pete Visclosky, D-Ind., has asked the Federal Highway Administration to investigate the recurring flooding of the Borman Expressway.

In a Friday letter, he asked the federal agency to initiate a formal review of the Borman's design and engineering between Interstate 65 and the Illinois state line.

"Given the importance of the Borman to the people of Northwest Indiana, the Chicago region and to national commerce, the reoccurring closures of this recently rebuilt stretch of interstate is inexcusable," Visclosky wrote.

The Indiana Department of Transportation has been reconstructing the Borman since 2003. It has completed work up to the I-65 interchange, where a massive construction project is now going on.

The Federal Highway Administration has poured hundreds of millions of dollars into the Borman reconstruction.

Visclosky notes the torrential rains on Sept. 12 and Sept. 13 were an extraordinary weather event. Those are the rains that caused massive floods in the region and closed the Borman for five days.

However, Visclosky notes that 11 days after the storm, there were further lane closures on the Borman because of standing water. And in August 2007, a smaller storm closed the Borman for several days.