On their way to Wednesday’s public hearing on a proposed solution for a problematic Ind. 49 intersection in Chesterton, Indiana Department of Transportation officials encountered the aftermath of a serious crash at that very location.
INDOT officials have known for years there was an issue with the Porter County Road 950 N/Calumet Avenue crossover intersection for Ind. 49, south of the Indiana Toll Road interchange.
A high number of crashes at the crossover — particularly involving east-west traffic — along with the area’s projected future growth are the major reasons why the project is going forward now, INDOT officials say.
It also emerged during Wednesday’s public hearing at the Chesterton Town Hall that a hotel may soon be built on Porter County Road 950 N.
Chesterton Town Engineer Mark O’Dell confirmed to the Post-Tribune that there have been discussions but nothing formal has been presented yet for the town to review.
Pranati Bansal, who attended the meeting, said she has an interest in developing a hotel on the property at County Road 950 N. However, she said nothing has been finalized with a hotel chain as of yet. Bansal previously, through PSR LLC, was the developer for the 1100 Woods subdivision in Chesterton.
Suman Das of Valparaiso purchased the 76.43-acre farmland site at 98 E. 950 N for $1,605,000, Porter County land records show. Das is an entrepreneur who has owned the Country Inn & Suites and Dairy Queen in Valparaiso.
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Jake Ellis, who lives on County Road 950 N, asked whether the potential for a hotel being built was the reason why INDOT is pursuing the project now.
John Krueckeberg, the INDOT project manager, said they were about 90% through the planning process when they learned about the interest in building a hotel.
INDOT officials began seriously considering the project in 2023.
The solution, known as a Modified Reduced Conflict Intersection with a Median U-Turn, could be built next summer. Krueckeberg said that they are leaning toward the alternative design for the intersection.
The project would involve altering the current median crossover, with southbound Ind. 49 maintaining access to Calumet Avenue but CR 950 N not having access to cross over or turn left onto Ind. 49. South of the present crossover, a median U-turn would be created so that CR 950 N traffic could turn northbound and continue on Ind. 49 or connect with Calumet Ave on the east side.
There would also be left turn access from Ind. 49 northbound to County Road 950 N, still maintained. An added lane turning north from Calumet Avenue on the east side would allow motorists to merge onto the northbound Ind. 49 traffic more easily.
The projected cost of the improvement is around $2 million.
Adam Parkhouse of INDOT and Krueckeberg said the construction cost, along with potential benefit yield, made the project an attractive option.
Statistics show that the Modified Reduced Conflict Intersection can reduce the number of serious accidents by 78%.
Some residents pointed out that prohibiting a turn from Ind. 49 northbound to go west on County Road 950 N would force motorists to make a U-turn at the busy Toll Road interchange.
Charles Barriball of Porter said he favors the improvement but “allowing a Michigan left turn at the Toll Road is a mistake.”
Parkhouse said that traffic surveys show only a very small percentage of motorists make the turn off Ind. 49 to go west on County Road 950 N.
James Johnson, who lives on County Road 950 N, said that he couldn’t understand why INDOT doesn’t just put a light at the intersection.
Dmitri Adams of Lawson-Fisher Associates of South Bend, which is working on the project, said it was determined that a traffic light wouldn’t be the best solution for that intersection.
Jim Woods is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.