Chicago Street Reconstruction and Widening

American Structurepoint provided engineering services to widen a heavily used 2.1-mile section of Chicago Street from the East Chicago city limits to the Illinois state line to improve public safety, enhance mobility, and reduce congestion.

TRANSPORTATION
The project created two travel lanes in each direction, with designated left-turn lanes at the signalized intersections. Improvements included new pavement, curb and gutter, sidewalks, storm sewers, roadway lighting, and intersection improvements. Roundabouts were built at the intersections of Gostlin Street-Shefield Avenue and Chicago Street-Hohman Avenue, with the Gostlin Street roundabout designed to accommodate heavy trucks and include an eastbound right turn bypass lane to mitigate queuing while train(s) cross Sheffield Avenue to the south, solving a long-standing issue of gridlocked traffic when trains are present.

The relocation of multiple utility lines underneath multiple railroad lines presented a complexity that was overcome by using a jack and bore method to relocate utility lines without disturbing the adjacent railroad line. A phased maintenance-of-traffic plan kept passenger vehicles moving on Chicago Street throughout construction, while heavy trucks were detoured to an alternate route. A robust public involvement campaign was conducted throughout the project, with public meetings, a Community Advisory Committee (CAC), and a dedicated project website used to gather community input and make project information available.

American Structurepoint prepared a successful application for $32.5 million of federal funds from the Northwest Indiana Regional Planning Commission (NIRPC) for the City of Hammond.

ENVIRONMENTAL
American Structurepoint provided environmental services in compliance with NEPA for this 2.1-mile road reconstruction project that included a partial new alignment. The environmental services included preparation of an EA and associated FONSI, Full Section 106, Section 4(f) ‘de minimis’, Noise Analysis, and Environmental Justice Benefits and Burden Analysis. This project also included significant public involvement including public meetings, Community Advisory Committee, public hearing, and additional outreach using a project website and social media.