Avoid US80/90 through Indiana

[drelec]

Just drove US 80/90 from IL state line to Elkhart, IN. Construction on bridges and pavement causes lane closures from two to one lane about every 10 miles. Not only is east bound messed up so is west bound. Terrible planning as far as I'm conserned. Wouldn't it be better to concentrate manpower on each project and limit disruptions? There are also closed rest areas and closed exits. Hope they get it completed by August for the FROG Internatinal rally!

[BandJCarm]

One lane road construction, usually for about 12 miles (While the actual work encompasses no more than about 200 feet), is prevalent all across America. It takes 3 years to complete that 200 feet. When it is complete, they will move to the next 12 mile stretch and work the next 3 years. At the end of that time, 6 years total, the original stretch will be torn to pieces by semi trucks, and the orange barrels will then move back to their original spots.

This is ONLY happening in America with road designations that begin with I, U, or have 2 numbers associated with them. Gravel roads are seemingly not affected.

[Jim34RL]

I80/90 is the Toll road in IN. I will use I94 and drive the extra couple of miles in IN. to the rally.

If I remember correctly IN. sold the rights to the toll road and is now managed by a outside non-state own agency. See this from the IN. toll road site, and I quote " Prior to 2006, the ITR was operated by the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT). In 2005, Gov. Mitch Daniels’ proposal to lease the Toll Road was enacted into law by the Indiana General Assembly. The ITR Concession Company LLC (ITRCC) was awarded the project with a bid of $3.8 (US) billion for a term of 75 years. ITRCC formally assumed operations on June 29, 2006.

On Sept. 22, 2014, ITRCC announced it filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy, and that a sale process for the asset would commence. IFM Investors on March 11, 2015, announced that it had entered into a purchase and sale agreement for $5.725 billion for the right to operate the Indiana Toll Road and collect toll revenue. IFM inherits the remaining 66 years of the Concession Lease Agreement."

So they can mange the road anyway that they feel it needs to be maintain.

You also have to remember that the spring through fall is the mid-west road construction season. So before traveling on any road system you should check the website for each states road construction timeline.

[whj77372]

Just came thru IN on IH 70 and it was bad. As bad as any were I have been! They just leave the potholes!!! No attempt to fill potholes!!!
If he couldn't fix the IH in his home state were the Feds will pay for most of it why would we send him to Washington?

[jeff64]

I ran I-94 from Ill. to Mich. City week before last on a Friday. It was a parking lot. We came back on Sunday am via US 30, wasn't too bad to the state line. From there to I57 wasn't the greatest of neighborhoods

[aztrooper]

I know this is a little late but I used to haul new 5th wheel and travel trailers out of Elkhart In. I lived in Missouri at the time. After several trips across 36 thru Missouri then I-72 to Springfield, I learned a better way to go from some truck drivers. I would go North on I-55 to Dwight, take exit 217 and then take highway 17 east to Kankakee. Keep going east on 17 to Momence. In Momence, take highway 114/10 east to I-65N. I would then take I-65N to I-94E and exit at MP 41A on I-94E and take 20 east. Take 20 staying right onto highway 2 to I-31 then highway 20 east into the south side of Elkhart. It was as fast as taking I-80/90 with no tolls and no driving thru Chicago.

[Jeff_and_Abby]

Originally Posted by aztrooper

I know this is a little late but I used to haul new 5th wheel and travel trailers out of Elkhart In. I lived in Missouri at the time. After several trips across 36 thru Missouri then I-72 to Springfield, I learned a better way to go from some truck drivers. I would go North on I-55 to Dwight, take exit 217 and then take highway 17 east to Kankakee. Keep going east on 17 to Momence. In Momence, take highway 114/10 east to I-65N. I would then take I-65N to I-94E and exit at MP 41A on I-94E and take 20 east. Take 20 staying right onto highway 2 to I-31 then highway 20 east into the south side of Elkhart. It was as fast as taking I-80/90 with no tolls and no driving thru Chicago.

We are rolling east "soon" and were starting to map out some alternate routes to all those deLuxe improved tolls. US 20 and US 30 have been go-to's in the past.