Patty and Bud Eidam had been wondering how the upcoming realignment of the intersection at Calumet Avenue and 45th Street in Munster would impact their nearby business.
The owners of Lamp Shade House & Antiques at 1810 45th St. for the past 42 years received some answers Monday night, as Munster officials hosted a public information session at Town Hall about the road project.
Residents received a fact sheet about the $33.7 million project and viewed displays while Town Manager Dustin Anderson and engineer Joe Nordman explained the scope of the work and took questions.
“We have a number of customers come down 45th to our business,” said Patty Eidam. “This project is like a dream come true, but we are concerned how it will affect our business.”
Munster Town Council President John Reed, R-1st, said the project is far enough along that the time was right to give residents a detailed look at it and offer them an opportunity to ask questions.
“People are confused if this is an underpass or overpass project,” he said. “Initially it was talked about as an overpass, but it would be so expensive and unsightly that we’re going with an underpass.”
The scope of the project involves realignment of the east leg of 45th with its west leg via an underpass to bypass traffic under the Canadian National Railway tracks. The portion of 45th from the intersection with Calumet to about 1,250 feet east, will be abandoned and turned into green space, plans show.
To construct the underpass, the existing railroad tracks will be shifted north and run on a temporary track located within the 45th right of way, plans show. Once the tunnel is completed, the tracks will be moved back south to their original position.
Currently, 45th is being extended diagonally about 900 feet through the Centennial Village, a residential, retail and hotel project under construction immediately north of Centennial Park. The extension of 45th will connect with its eastern leg near Columbia Avenue, which will be permanently closed at 45th, according to the plan.
Pedestrians and cyclists traveling northwest from the existing Pennsy Greenway path will see a new path heading north along the west side of Clayhole Lake. The path will continue over the lowered section of 45th via a bridge to the south side of the railroad right of way and then northwest to Calumet, plans show.
Part of the town’s public outreach about the project involves notifying people of extended road closures and detours as the project gets in full swing in early 2017. The work is expected to last two construction seasons, concluding in 2018.
More Top Picks Best Fermentation Crocks For The Money
“I came here tonight because I’m concerned about a detour going near my son’s home during the construction,” Munster resident Bill O’Brien said as he studied engineering plans. “The rest of it looks good.”
Munster’s Jim Kottaraf said he was fine with the project as long as it was all budgeted.
“I try to detour around the intersection to avoid the traffic whenever I can,” he said.
Jim Masters is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.