INDIANAPOLIS | The Indiana Senate gave an overwhelming thumbs-up to the Illiana Expressway on Thursday night.
The Senate voted 48-0 to send legislation to the House that authorizes a public-private partnership to build and operate a proposed Illiana Expressway. The estimated cost of the proposed expressway is between $600 million and $1 billion.
State Sen. Ed Charbonneau, R-Valparaiso, shepherded the Illiana proposal through the Senate. He said an Illiana Expressway would relieve congestion on the Borman Expressway, cut travel times in the region, provide new economic development opportunities and improve road safety.
"We're at a moment in time where we have the stars aligning," Charbonneau said. "We have interest in the state of Illinois, with the governor and the Legislature, interest in Indiana, with the Indiana Department of Transportation interested in moving forward with this very significant project."
The legislation adds the Illiana to a state list of roads that can be built using a public-private partnership system. The state would forever own the land under the road, but a private operator would build and collect tolls for use of the road.
"The bill would allow the state to move forward with credibility when talking to potential investors," Charbonneau said.
The legislation now moves onto the House for consideration by that chamber.
The proposed Illiana Expressway would connect Interstate 65 in Lake County to Interstate 55 in Joliet, Ill. A specific route for the road has not been determined.
However, not everyone is happy with the proposed length of the road. In a letter sent to state lawmakers this week, Lake County Commissioner Gary Scheub said the Illiana should start at Interstate 80/94 near LaPorte or Michigan City and run through southern Lake County near Lowell before heading into Illinois.
"Who benefits more with the Illiana as it is presently proposed? Illinois, of course! Indiana’s benefit and real relief of traffic congestion would not happen in Indiana’s portion of I-80/94," Scheub said.
