Officials closed a more than 3-mile stretch of Cline Avenue on Friday morning, and representatives of local businesses reached said it didn't have a major impact on operations during the day.
Of six businesses reached Friday, all said it was business as usual.
One person at a Gary transportation business, who declined to be identified, said the closure wasn't a big deal because there are enough alternate routes available in the area to avoid it. He joked the biggest problem could be finding a faster route to head home.
The Indiana Department of Transportation said Friday afternoon it would be a minimum of six weeks before the stretch of Cline was reopened to traffic.
Reggie Dotson, spokesman for Ameristar Casino Hotel East Chicago, said the company is working with INDOT officials, state police and local officials to make sure travel is safe for employees and customers. Dotson said people can take a detour from Cline Avenue north to Columbus Drive, and then drive around the Indiana Harbor neighborhood to reach the Robert A. Pastrick Marina and the casino.
Joe Branchik, vice president of marketing at Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, which is several miles west of Ameristar, said he sees the closure as a potential upside to garnering extra gaming business from the Chicago area. Loyal Northwest Indiana customers shouldn't be affected too much because they are familiar with other routes to the attraction, Branchik said.
Gary/Chicago International Airport Director Chris Curry said the closure didn't cause major problems for traffic in the area because the Indiana Toll Road is available as an alternate route.
Cline Avenue has exits leading to ArcelorMittal Indiana Harbor facilities in East Chicago, but spokeswoman Katie Patterson said the company doesn't foresee any operational issues related to the closure. Patterson said employees have been advised of alternate surface street routes to take.
Ameristar detour to avoid Cline Avenue:
All incoming motorists to Ameristar by way of Cline Avenue are asked to take the following routes.
Coming from Interstate 80/94 east, Cline Avenue north:
Traffic will be routed to the Columbus Drive exit
Turn left on Columbus Drive
Turn right at Euclid Avenue
Turn right at Michigan Avenue
Take the ArcelorMittal Plant 2 exit (stay to left)
Keep right to Pastrick marina/Jeorse Park exit
Turn left at 777 Ameristar Blvd. (stop light)
Coming From Skyway headed eastbound, 90 east:
Continue on Toll Road through the first Cline Avenue exit 3
Exit at Cline Avenue/Gary exit 10
Turn right to 912 North (Cline Avenue)
Turn left on Columbus Drive
Turn right at Euclid Avenue
Turn right at Michigan Avenue
Take the ArcelorMittal Plant 2 exit (stay to left)
Keep right to Pastrick marina/Jeorse Park exit
Turn left at 777 Ameristar Blvd. (stop light)
Source: Ameristar Casino Hotel East Chicago
