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11/6/2024
A new highway bridge between the Ports of Indiana–Burns Harbor and the greater Chicago and northern Indiana market opened today.
The bridge is part of a $35.4 million multiyear project that, once completed, will double cargo truck capacity on the only public roadway for ocean cargo.
With the newly constructed 1,200-foot bridge open, the Indiana Department of Transportation and contractor Superior Construction will be able to close the existing old bridge structure to reconstruct it, Indiana port officials said in a press release. Once the reconstruction is finished, the two bridge structures, known as State Road 249, will provide a four-lane connection to the port.
“Ports require robust multimodal connections, and this new entrance will double our port’s capacity to handle critical ocean shipments, said Ports of Indiana CEO Jody Peacock. “We have 17 ship berths and storage for 250 rail cars, but only one truck lane entering the port.”
The newly constructed bridge and the reconstruction of the old bridge are part of $77 million spent in recent construction projects at the port. This included adding three ship berths, two rail yards, a new bulk warehouse and extensive infrastructure rehabilitation projects. The port also received federal approval to construct a new ocean container terminal scheduled to open in 2026.