HAMMOND | Lane restrictions will be coming to a lengthy stretch of 165th Street, as crews begin a major infrastructure reconstruction project.
Set to begin in April, the project involves rebuilding 165th between Indianapolis Boulevard and Calumet Avenue, portions of which will receive new curbs, sidewalks and sewers, said Phil Taillon, executive director of Hammond's Department of Planning and Development.
City Engineer Stan Dostatni told members of the Redevelopment Commission last week that a nearly $3.7 million federal grant will be applied to the project, as well as dollars from the Hammond Sanitary District, a tax increment financing district and casino-generated revenue from 3rd District Councilman Anthony Higgs.
"If you've driven that stretch, it needs to be done," Dostatni said.
The expansive project will take about a year and a half to complete, Dostatni said, with underground work and paving set to be complete by the winter of 2011.
"I don't like projects that last so long, but there's a lot of underground (work) on this one," Dostatni said.
That underground work includes upgrading and expanding sewers to deal with heavy rainfalls, something the current system lacks, Dostatni said, adding that just 3 inches of rain can cause flooding along the stretch.
"Sometimes we have to close the street for several hours," he said.
While the street won't be closed during construction, it will be down to one lane in each direction.
With construction of a new, much larger Menards hardware store getting under way just behind the current store on 165th and Columbia Avenue, Dostatni said officials from the store will be looking at the city's timeline to coordinate the closing and demolition of the existing store.
Commissioner Jimmie Lambert said the sidewalks included in the project may help shoppers get to Menards, as well as the stores at the Hammond Mills and Woodmar shopping centers.
Taillon said the improvements also could help spark the expansion of business on 165th.
"We are excited about this project," Taillon said.
