Hubbry Logo
Interstate 94 in IndianaInterstate 94 in IndianaMain
Open search
Interstate 94 in Indiana
Community hub
Interstate 94 in Indiana
logo
8 pages, 0 posts
0 subscribers
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Interstate 94 in Indiana
Interstate 94 in Indiana
from Wikipedia

Interstate 94 marker
Interstate 94
Map
I-94 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by INDOT
Length45.770 mi[1] (73.660 km)
NHSEntire route
Major junctions
West end I-80 / I-94 / US 6 at Illinois state line
Major intersections
East end I-94 at Michigan state line
Location
CountryUnited States
StateIndiana
CountiesLake, Porter, LaPorte
Highway system
  • Indiana State Highway System

I-90 Toll
SR 101

Interstate 94 (I-94) is a part of the Interstate Highway System that runs from Billings, Montana, to Port Huron, Michigan. I-94 enters Indiana from Illinois in the west, in Munster, and runs generally eastward through Hammond, Gary, and Portage, before entering Michigan northeast of Michigan City. The Interstate runs for approximately 45.8 miles (73.7 km) through the state. The landscape traversed by I-94 includes urban areas of Northwest Indiana, wooded areas, and farmland. The section of I-94 between the Illinois state line and Lake Station is named the Frank Borman Expressway.

Route description

[edit]
The Borman Expressway in Hammond, approaching exit 3

I-94 enters Indiana from Illinois running concurrently with I-80 and US Highway 6 (US 6) on the Borman Expressway, in Munster. The freeway heads toward the east as a 10-lane Interstate, quickly entering the city of Hammond. The road has an interchange with Calumet Avenue, which US 41 is concurrent with toward the north of the interchange. East of the Calumet interchange is an interchange with Indianapolis Boulevard, which carries US 41 south of this interchange and State Road 152 (SR 152) to the north. East of Indianapolis Boulevard, the Interstate passes over the Norfolk Southern Railway Kanakee belt, before having an interchange with Kennedy Avenue. After Kennedy Avenue, the freeway passes to the north of industrial properties, before having an interchange at SR 912, also known as Cline Avenue.[2][3] The stretch of the highway between Kennedy Avenue and SR 912 is one of the most heavily traveled in the state, with annual average daily traffic (AADT) of 163,912 vehicles according to a 2010 study.[4] At the interchange with Cline Avenue, the Borman Expressway becomes an eight-lane Interstate; it also leaves Hammond and enters the city of Gary.[2][3][5]

East of SR 912, the Interstate has an overpass over railroad tracks, before having an interchange with Burr Street. After Burr Street, the highway passes near woodland, as a 10-lane Interstate. The freeway has an interchange with both Grant Street and Broadway. The Interstate has an interchange with I-65. Central Avenue has an incomplete interchange, eastbound exit and westbound entrance, with the Interstate that is accessed through ramps at I-65 exit. East of Central Avenue the freeway becomes a six-lane Interstate passing near wooded areas, with farmland. The highway enters Lake Station, and US 6 leaves I-94. East of the interchange with US 6, the Borman Expressway has an interchange with the Indiana Toll Road. I-80 leaves I-94 and heads east along the toll road. The name "Borman Expressway" does not apply eastward beyond the toll road interchange. The freeway passes over the toll road, before leaving Lake Station and entering Portage.[2][3]

In Portage, the Interstate passes over US 20 and begins to parallel US 20, before having an interchange with SR 249. East of SR 249, the highway leaves Portage and enters Burns Harbor, before passing under SR 149. I-94 has a cloverleaf interchange with US 20, before entering Porter. While passing through Porter, the highway passes over the Norfolk Southern Chicago Line. After Porter, the road enters Chesterton and has an interchange with SR 49. East of SR 49, the freeway leaves Chesterton, entering rural Porter County before entering LaPorte County. The Interstate has an interchange with US 421 just south of Michigan City. The road curves to the northeast, bypassing Michigan City to the southeast, having an interchange with US 20. After US 20, I-94 passes over a Chicago South Shore and South Bend Railroad track, before leaving the Michigan City area and entering Michigan.[2][3][5] The segment of freeway between US 20 and the Michigan state line has the lowest AADT on I-94 in the state of Indiana, at 37,179 vehicles.[4]

History

[edit]

The expressway now known as the Borman was originally known as the Tri-State Highway, and construction of the expressway began in 1949.[6] The designation went through the Kingery Expressway and eventually linked with the Tri-State Tollway in Illinois.[7] It was originally designated SR 420 in Indiana.[8] US 6 diverged at Calumet Avenue south and ran on Calumet Avenue and Ridge Road.[9]

At various times, the expressway was extended from Indianapolis Boulevard to Burr Street, then to Georgia Street east of Broadway, and eventually to the toll road.[7] Some time after the enactment of the Interstate Highway System, the expressway was designated as I-80, I-90, and I-294, and the I-94 designation was applied to the Indiana Toll Road west of where its interchange with the Borman was eventually built.[9][10] The expressways were renumbered around 1965 to avoid the implication that through traffic must change roads to stay on I-90 or I-94, resulting in I-90 being moved to the Indiana Toll Road, I-94 being moved to the Borman, and I-294 being cut back to the Tri-State Tollway and no longer entering Indiana. US 6 was extended along the Borman to Ripley Street at that time (its earlier alignment in this area became US 6 Business). The Borman Expressway is named after Frank Borman, commander of the Gemini 7 and Apollo 8 space missions, who was born in Gary.[11]

The eastern section of I-94 in Indiana was completed last, after the nearby Michigan section had been completed, leading to what was called in the interim the "Cornfield Roadblock".[citation needed]

Reconstruction

[edit]
Borman Expressway three-level interchange at Cline Avenue

Reconstruction of the Borman commenced in 2004.[12] The reconstruction of both the Kingery and Borman expressways aimed to significantly reduce the delays encountered on the highway. The reconstructed portion of the Borman is eight lanes wide, with additional collector–distributor lanes between interchanges. Construction between the Illinois state line and exit 11 (I-65 south ramp to Indianapolis) was completed in 2007. The I-65 Interchange Modification Project continued into 2009, including replacing the pavement of the Borman Expressway to Central Avenue.[13]

The Borman Expressway and Cline Avenue interchange is a partial cloverleaf interchange. Two flyover ramps allow southbound Cline Avenue traffic to merge onto the eastbound Borman Expressway, and northbound Cline Avenue traffic to merge onto the westbound Borman Expressway. The remaining ramps utilize the cloverleaf design.[14]

Flooding

[edit]

On Saturday, September 13, 2008, at approximately 9:00 am CDT, all lanes of the Borman Expressway in both directions at Kennedy Avenue in Hammond were closed by the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) and the Indiana State Police due to severe flooding from the Little Calumet River. A levee breach, thanks to torrential rains from the remnants of Hurricane Ike, reportedly caused water from the river to cascade across all lanes to a depth of nearly five feet (1.5 m) under the Kennedy Avenue overpass. The expressway remained shut down in both directions until the following Wednesday, September 17, 2008. There had also been flooding in August 2007, and various measures have been undertaken to prevent future occurrences.[15]

Exit list

[edit]
CountyLocationmi[1]kmExitDestinationsNotes
LakeMunster0.0000.000


I-80 west / I-94 west / US 6 west (Kingery Expressway) – Des Moines, Chicago
Continuation into Illinois; western end of the Borman Expressway
Hammond0.8751.4081
US 41 north (Calumet Avenue) – Hammond, Munster, Chicago
Western end of US 41 concurrency; signed as exits 1A (south) and 1B (north)
2.3843.8372

US 41 south / SR 152 north (Indianapolis Boulevard) – Hammond, Highland
Eastern end of US 41 concurrency; serves Purdue University Northwest Hammond Campus; signed as exits 2A (south) and 2B (north) eastbound
3.346–
3.358
5.385–
5.404
3Kennedy AvenueServes Visitors' Center; signed as exits 3A (south) and 3B (north) eastbound
Gary4.9087.8995 SR 912 (Cline Avenue) – Chicago, GriffithServes Gary/Chicago International Airport; signed as exits 5A (south) and 5B (north)
6.44810.3776Burr StreetSigned as exits 6A (south) and 6B (north) eastbound
8.89014.3079Grant Street
9.91515.95710 SR 53 (Broadway)Serves Indiana University Northwest
10.856–
11.857
17.471–
19.082
11
12

I-65 to Indiana Toll Road (I-90 Toll) – Indianapolis, Chicago
I-65 exits 259A-B; signed as exits 11 (south) & 12 (north) eastbound and exit 12 westbound
Lake Station12.74920.51813Central AvenueEastbound exit (shares ramp with I-65 north, Exit 12) and westbound entrance
15.15624.39115

US 6 east / SR 51 to US 20 (Ripley Street)
Eastern end of US 6 concurrency; signed as exits 15A (south/east) and 15B (north); westbound exit 15B is part of exit 16
15.666–
15.937
25.212–
25.648
16




I-80 Toll east / I-90 Toll / Indiana Toll Road to Chicago Skyway west – Toledo, Chicago
Eastern end of I-80 concurrency and the Borman Expressway; I-90 / Toll Road exit 21
PorterPortage18.95530.50519 SR 249 – Port of Indiana, Portage
Porter22.35635.97822 US 20 – Burns Harbor, PorterSigned as exits 22A (west) and 22B (east)
Chesterton25.98241.81426 SR 49 – Chesterton, ValparaisoSigned as exits 26A (south) and 26B (north); serves Indiana Dunes National Park and Indiana Dunes State Park
LaPorteCoolspring Township34.58655.66134 US 421 – Westville, Michigan CitySigned as exits 34A (south) and 34B (north)
Springfield Township39.93464.26840 US 20 / US 35 – South Bend, Michigan City, La PorteSigned as exits 40A (east/south) and 40B (west), northern terminus of US-35
45.77073.660
I-94 east – Detroit
Continuation into Michigan
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Interstate 94 in Indiana is an Interstate spanning approximately 45.8 miles (73.7 km) across the northwestern corner of the state, entering from near and Hammond before proceeding through urban and suburban areas of Lake County, then across Porter and LaPorte counties to the state line northeast of Michigan City. The route connects the to northern Indiana's industrial and recreational hubs, including Gary, Portage, Chesterton, and the vicinity, while facilitating freight movement along a key transcontinental corridor. It runs concurrently with Interstate 80 from the state line eastward through Hammond and Gary to an interchange near Lake Station, where I-80 diverges northward to join the (Interstate 90), and I-94 continues independently through more rural landscapes to its eastern terminus. The western segment of I-94 in Lake County, known as the Borman Expressway, handles some of the highest traffic volumes of any highway in , including a substantial proportion of heavy truck traffic that underscores its role as a vital link for commerce between the Midwest and regions. East of the concurrency, the highway features key interchanges with near Lake Station, U.S. Route 20 in Chesterton, and U.S. Route 35 in Michigan City, along with facilities such as a weigh station and the Michigan City Welcome Center. Construction of I-94 in Indiana began early in the Interstate era, with the first segment of the I-80/I-94 corridor in opening to traffic in 1952 as the state's inaugural Interstate highway. Subsequent developments have addressed growing demands, including the Restore 94 project, which focuses on enhancing pavement, bridges, and safety features across the route to accommodate its intense usage and reduce congestion. As of 2025, initiatives such as the I-80/I-94 FlexRoad project, with construction planned to begin in early 2026, incorporate advanced technologies like dynamic lane assignment to improve reliability and efficiency on the Borman Expressway segment.

Route

Description

Interstate 94 (I-94) in Indiana spans 45.77 miles (73.66 km) from the Illinois state line in Munster to the Michigan state line near New Buffalo, traversing the northwest corner of the state through Lake, Porter, and LaPorte counties. The highway enters Indiana concurrent with Interstate 80 (I-80) and U.S. Route 6 (US 6) as the Borman Expressway, a name honoring Gary native and Apollo 8 astronaut Frank Borman. This western segment features up to 10 lanes through the industrial areas of Hammond and Gary, where it passes major steel mills and dense urban landscapes shaped by heavy manufacturing and port activities along Lake Michigan. Near Lake Station, the roadway narrows to eight lanes, incorporating collector-distributor lanes west of the I-65 interchange to manage high-volume traffic weaving. Continuing eastward, I-94 separates from I-80 near Lake Station and maintains six to eight lanes through the suburban and commercial zones of Portage, transitioning into more open terrain. In Porter and LaPorte counties, the highway winds through rural woodlands, farmland, and preserved natural areas, providing access to the along its northern alignment close to . Key infrastructure includes bridges spanning the Little Calumet River and other local waterways, with the route's proximity to the lake contributing to seasonal traffic surges from tourism and influencing scenic views of dunes and shoreline. The highway concludes in Michigan City after passing the US 20/US 35 interchange, where it curves northward toward the state line. As of 2025, I-94 experiences ongoing lane restrictions and overnight closures in multiple segments due to repaving, bridge maintenance, and safety improvement projects, particularly affecting travel through Lake and LaPorte counties.

Exit list

Interstate 94 in Indiana features 20 interchanges from the Illinois state line to the state line, spanning approximately 45.77 miles. The following table lists all exits eastbound, including exit numbers, mile markers from the Illinois border, destinations, locations, and notes on access or concurrencies.
ExitmiDestinationsNotesLocation
-0.00Illinois state line (I-80/I-94/US 6 concurrency begins)Western terminus in IndianaMunster
10.875US 41 (Calumet Avenue) – Hammond, Munster, ChicagoFull access; northbound US 41Hammond
21.77Indianapolis BoulevardFull accessHammond
32.85Kennedy AvenueFull accessHammond
54.58SR 912 (Cline Avenue)/Gary Chicago International AirportFull access; serves airportHammond
65.50Burr StreetFull accessHammond
98.50Grant StreetEastbound exit and westbound entrance onlyHammond
109.50SR 53 (Broadway Avenue)Full accessLake Station
1110.856I-65 south – IndianapolisPartial cloverleaf; southbound I-65Lake Station
12A11.00I-65 north – GaryDirectional split; northbound I-65 (eastbound I-94)Lake Station/Gary
12B11.50I-65 north – GaryDirectional split; northbound I-65 (westbound I-94)Lake Station/Gary
1312.50Central AvenueEastbound exit and westbound entrance onlyLake Station
1515.00US 6/SR 51 (Ripley Street)US 6 concurrency endsLake Station
1616.00I-80/I-90 (Indiana Toll Road)Full access; I-80 concurrency endsLake Station
1919.00SR 249 (Armstrong Street) – Port of IndianaFull accessPortage
2222.00US 20 – Portage, ChestertonFull accessPortage
2626.00SR 49 – Indiana Dunes State Park, ChestertonFull access; serves Indiana Dunes National ParkChesterton
2929.00Weigh station (eastbound only)Eastbound onlyPorter
3434.00US 421 – Michigan CityFull accessMichigan City
4040.00US 20/US 35 – Michigan CityFull accessMichigan City
4343.00Rest area (westbound welcome center)Westbound only; information centerMichigan City
-45.77Michigan state lineEastern terminus in IndianaNew Buffalo Township

History and development

Origins and construction

The origins of Interstate 94 in Indiana trace back to post-World War II planning for enhanced regional connectivity, with the route proposed as the Tri-State Highway in 1949 to link , , and Michigan along the southern shore of . This initiative aimed to support industrial growth in and facilitate interstate travel between and , building on earlier concepts from the Federal Aid Highway Act of 1944. The highway was initially designated as temporary State Road 420 (SR 420) by the Indiana State Highway Commission to manage early development phases. Construction of the western section, from Hammond to Gary, commenced in the early 1950s, with the first segment of SR 420 opening to traffic in 1952 near the Illinois state line. Progress accelerated after the Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956 provided substantial federal funding, covering 90% of costs, allowing the section to reach Burr Street in Gary by 1956. The eastern section, however, faced significant delays into the due to funding shortages and prioritization of the parallel , creating a temporary gap known as the "Cornfield Roadblock" after Michigan completed its adjacent portion in 1971. Full completion occurred on November 2, 1972, when the final 1.65-mile segment from Portage to the state line opened, establishing continuous interstate access. Early design features included four to six lanes with full , grade separations, and interchanges to accommodate future growth, utilizing existing multi-lane pavement from where possible. The route integrated with the Indiana East-West Toll Road (later designated I-80/I-90) by 1956, following its alignment southeast of Michigan City before branching north between U.S. 12 and SR 39 to the state line. Construction contracts from the , such as the addition of a third lane costing $7.412 million and bridge widenings at $2.075 million, highlighted the scale of investment, involving coordination between state and federal agencies. Challenges during development included navigating industrial zoning in Gary, where heavy industry like required specific interchanges, such as the proposed 15th Avenue access estimated at $410,000. Environmental concerns near , particularly crossings over low-lying areas like the Little Calumet River, complicated routing and necessitated elevated structures to mitigate flooding risks and preserve shoreline access. These issues, combined with local opposition to property acquisitions and the need for municipal funding of grade separations like Grand Boulevard in , extended timelines but ensured alignment with national interstate standards.

Designation and naming

Interstate 94 in Indiana forms a segment of the national east-west corridor that connects the across multiple states, designated as part of the under the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956. The route in was initially developed from State Road 420 and integrated into the system to link urban areas in the northwest corner of the state with and . It represents the shortest state portion of I-94, spanning 45.77 miles from the Illinois state line to the Michigan state line, compared to longer segments in neighboring states like Michigan (over 200 miles) and Illinois (about 55 miles). The portion of I-94 from the Illinois state line to the Indiana Toll Road interchange at Lake Station is officially named the Expressway, honoring astronaut , a Gary native who commanded the and missions. This commemorative name extends informally to the full Indiana segment of I-94, though signage for the eastern portion remains unsigned as the Borman Expressway. The highway features mile-based exit numbering, with mileposts resetting to zero at the Illinois state line and increasing eastward toward ; state line markers denote the boundaries, aiding navigation continuity across the corridor.

Reconstruction projects

In the late 20th century, portions of in urban areas of underwent minor widening projects to expand capacity from four to six lanes, addressing growing traffic demands in the Hammond and Gary regions. These expansions, primarily occurring during the and , focused on improving throughput without major structural overhauls, though specific project timelines and costs for these phases remain limited in public records. A significant reconstruction effort from to 2009 targeted the Borman Expressway segment of I-94 from the Illinois state line to the I-65 interchange, costing over $300 million and involving the addition of lanes to reach eight total in key sections. This project included the reconstruction of interchanges, such as the installation of collector-distributor ramps at the partial cloverleaf with Cline Avenue (State Road 912) to reduce weaving and enhance safety. Completion in 2009 also incorporated upgrades to the I-65 interchange, including ramp improvements and bridge rehabilitations, which increased overall capacity and mitigated congestion in the heavily traveled corridor. The Restore I-94 initiative, launched by the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) in 2016 with an initial $45 million investment, encompassed pavement rehabilitation, bridge work, and drainage enhancements across the full 45-mile length from the Illinois line to the Michigan state line. Spanning the 2010s and into the early 2020s, these efforts addressed deterioration from high truck volumes, incorporating preventive maintenance to extend infrastructure life and improve resilience against wear. Key components included resurfacing deteriorated pavements, rehabilitating aging bridges, and upgrading drainage systems to prevent water accumulation, all while maintaining at least two lanes open in each direction during construction. Recent projects from 2020 to 2025 have continued modernization, with ongoing patching and overlay work in LaPorte County involving overnight reductions to one in each direction between U.S. 20 and U.S. 421 through December 2025. Additionally, the 80/94 FlexRoad initiative, a $260.6 million Transportation Systems and Operations (TSMO) project, began planning phases in early 2025 and is set for starting in spring 2026, focusing on dynamic , interchange modifications, and optic upgrades for real-time traffic signage along the 14-mile stretch from I-65 to the Illinois line. These efforts have reduced congestion by optimizing and enhanced through better incident response, though they have introduced temporary disruptions like shoulder closures and reduced speeds during peak rehabilitation periods.

Flooding incidents

Interstate 94 in Indiana, particularly its northwest corridor, is vulnerable to flooding due to its proximity to the Little Calumet River, flat terrain that hinders drainage, and heavy truck traffic that can exacerbate ponding during storms. In August 2007, heavy rains caused flash flooding along a three-mile stretch of I-80/94 in the Hammond area, closing eastbound lanes on August 24 due to water covering the roadway from the Little Calumet River overflow. The highway remained shut down for three days, disrupting one of the region's busiest corridors with over 140,000 daily vehicles, and the incident highlighted drainage deficiencies that prompted subsequent assessments. More severe impacts occurred in September 2008 from the remnants of , which brought 6 to 9 inches of rain on -14, causing the Little Calumet River to overflow and flood the underpass at Kennedy Avenue with up to 12 feet of water. This led to a multi-day closure of both directions of I-80/94 starting , with lanes remaining impassable until due to standing water across all lanes. The event caused significant infrastructure damage in , contributing to statewide losses exceeding $1 billion from related flooding, and directly spurred flood control initiatives including pump station enhancements along the river basin. A recent flooding unfolded 19-21, 2025, when severe thunderstorms dropped 7 to 8 inches of rain across , leading to scattered flash flooding in Hammond and Gary that inundated hundreds of homes and exacerbated from industrial areas near steel mills. Following the 2008 event, mitigation efforts have included post-flood upgrades such as improved stormwater systems and pump installations in the Little Calumet River basin to reduce overflow risks, with elevated underpasses and enhanced drainage integrated into broader reconstruction projects during the 2009 and 2020s phases. These measures, including those from the ongoing Restore 94 initiative, aim to address the corridor's persistent vulnerabilities to intense rainfall events.

References

Add your contribution
Related Hubs
User Avatar
No comments yet.