Mayor Thomas M. McDermott, Jr. and the City of Hammond are pleased to announce that the Governor’s Parkway Railroad Overpass Project has received approval under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), marking a significant milestone in the effort to alleviate long-standing traffic disruptions caused by blocked railroad crossings in the Hessville neighborhood. Two years following the public hearing, the much-anticipated approval allows the project to begin the property acquisition phase.
“The rigorous environmental review process is complete,” said Mayor McDermott. “We have mitigated for all environmental aspects of the project including tree replacement, wetland mitigation, identification and protection of Endangered Species, among others. I’m happy to finally move forward with improving safety response for our residents and solving the decades old problem of stopped trains in Hessville.”
The project was awarded a $7,029,392 grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) through the Railroad Crossing Elimination (RCE) Grant Program. The funding will support the construction of a grade-separated overpass over the Norfolk Southern line east of Parrish Avenue, eliminating two at-grade crossings at Parrish and Arizona Avenues. The new overpass will be integrated into the Governor’s Parkway corridor, enhancing traffic flow and safety for motorists, pedestrians, and emergency responders.
In 2018, the project received $5.45M from Indiana’s Local Trax program, which provides state matching funds for rail crossing safety improvements. The Local Trax program is part of the Indiana’s commitment to enhancing transportation infrastructure and safety across Indiana.
The Governor’s Parkway Railroad Overpass Project is expected to commence construction in Summer 2026, with completion anticipated in late 2027. This project is part of a broader initiative to improve rail crossing safety and efficiency in Northwest Indiana, addressing concerns raised by residents and first responders regarding blocked crossings and delayed emergency response times.
INDOT will be seeking public comment on the approved Environmental Assessment for 45 days anticipated to begin on Monday, May 5, 2025 following the publication of the statutory legal notice. Comments can be made by email to GovernorsParkwayProject@cmtengr.com. Comments cannot be received prior to publication of the legal notice.