The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) will host a public hearing on Monday, March 23, 2026
at Hanover Central High School, 10120 W 133rd Ave, Cedar Lake, IN. The doors will be open at 5:30 p.m.
CT to give participants time to view displays and talk to representatives. The formal hearing portion will
begin with a presentation at 6 p.m. CT followed by an opportunity for verbal statements.
The purpose of the public hearing is to offer all interested persons an opportunity to review and comment on
preliminary design plans for the U.S. 41 Roadway Improvement Project in Lake County, Indiana. The
proposed project is located along U.S. 41 from 3.35 miles south of U.S. 231 (to the south of W. 133rd
Avenue) to U.S. 231.
The need for the project is due to overall deficient safety performance along the U.S. 41 corridor based on
the occurrence of traffic crashes. This roadway segment has an elevated crash frequency compared to other
similar roadways. The purpose of the project is to improve the safety of the corridor.
The proposed project is to establish a Two-Way Left-Turn Lane (TWLTL) throughout the project area where
U.S. 41 would be widened in both directions throughout the length of the proposed construction area. Of the
163 structures located within the project area, there are 105 culverts which will be replaced in-kind, extended to
accommodate roadway widening, and/or adjusted to grade. Traffic signals at U.S. 231 and W. 133rd Avenue
will be replaced. Sidewalk and curb ramps will be upgraded/installed at the intersection of U.S. 41 and W.
133rd Avenue. Existing permanent lighting will be replaced in-kind. Additionally, new permanent lighting will
be installed in the northwest, southwest, and southeast quadrants of the intersection of U.S. 41 and W. 133rd
Avenue.
The project is anticipated to require a total of 18.90 acres of new permanent right-of-way (ROW) and 6.09 acres
of reacquired ROW in order to widen the roadway and construct the TWLTL. The project is anticipated to
require a total of 0.69 acre of temporary ROW in order to facilitate construction access and reconstruct
driveways throughout the corridor. No relocations of businesses or residences are anticipated. The project is
anticipated to permanently impact approximately 2,200 linear feet of stream habitat in order to widen the
roadway and reconstruct adjacent ditches. The project is anticipated to permanently impact approximately 1.3
acres of roadside wetlands in order to widen the roadway and reconstruct adjacent ditches. Approximately 22
acres of roadside terrestrial habitat will be impacted, including approximately 3.5 acres of tree clearing in order
to widen the roadway and construct the TWLTL. Mitigation for impacts to streams and wetlands is anticipated.
The maintenance of traffic (MOT) plan is expected to utilize phased construction to allow continued flow of
traffic throughout construction. Pedestrian MOT will be provided at the intersection of U.S. 41 and W. 133rd
Avenue. Access to all properties will be maintained throughout construction. School corporations and
emergency services will be notified of closures prior to construction. The proposed start of construction is
spring of 2028 and will last through early 2029.
The cost associated with this project is approximately $19,332,950, which includes preliminary engineering,
right-of-way, and construction with both federal and state funds anticipated to be used. The Federal Highway
Administration and INDOT have agreed this project falls within the guidelines of a Categorical Exclusion
(CE) Level 4 environmental document. Preliminary design plans along with the CE are available for review
at the following locations:
- Cedar Lake Branch of the Lake County Public Library (10010 W. 133rd Ave., Cedar Lake, IN 46303)
- INDOT Northwest District Office (315 E. Boyd Blvd., LaPorte, IN 46350); 1-855-INDOT4U
- INDOT Northwest District Website: bit.ly/US41TWLTL
Public statements for the record will be taken as part of the public hearing procedure. All verbal statements
recorded during the public hearing and all written comments submitted prior to, during, and for a period of
two (2) weeks following the hearing date, will be evaluated, considered, and addressed in subsequent
environmental documentation. Written comments may be submitted prior to the public hearing and within
the comment period to: Mitchell Wilcox, Michael Baker International, 3815 River Crossing Parkway, Suite
20, Indianapolis, IN 46240.
INDOT respectfully requests comments be posted by Tuesday, April 7, 2026, to be included as part of
the public hearing record.
In accordance with Indiana Code 5-14-1.5-2.9, INDOT is offering livestreams of all public hearings. You
must register at the following link in order to participate in the livestream: bit.ly/US41TWLTLHearing.
Comments from livestream attendees will only be accepted in electronic written form, not verbally.
A recording of the livestream will be posted to the INDOT YouTube page after the hearing and will also be
linked to the project webpage where project materials are also available. The recording will be available
online for at least 90 days.
In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), INDOT will provide accommodations for
persons with disabilities with regards to participation at the public hearing venue or on the livestream and/or
access to project information, including arranging auxiliary aids, interpretation services for the hearing
impaired, services for the sight impaired and other services as needed. In addition, INDOT will provide
accommodations for persons of Limited English Proficiency (LEP) requiring auxiliary aids including
language interpretation services and document conversion. Should accommodation be required, please
contact INDOT at (855) 463-6848 or contact Mitchell Wilcox at (317) 663-8265 or email
mitchell.wilcox@mbakerintl.com at least 72 hours prior to the public hearing for additional assistance.
This notice is published in compliance with: 1) Code of Federal Regulations, Title 23, Section 771 (CFR
771.111(h)(1) stating, “Each State must have procedures approved the FHWA to carry out a public
involvement/public hearing program.”; 2) 23 CFR 450.210(a)(1)(ix) stating, “Provide for the periodic review
of the effectiveness of the public involvement process to ensure that the process provides full and open
access to all interested parties and revise the process, as appropriate; and 3) The INDOT Project
Development Public Involvement Procedures Manual approved by the Federal Highway Administration on
July 7, 2021.
