The Governor’s Parkway Railroad Overpass Project in Hammond received approval under the National Environmental Policy Act.
The approval, two years after the public hearing, marks a milestone. The property acquisition phase can get underway. The project addresses traffic disruptions caused by blocked railroad crossings in the Hessville neighborhood.
“The rigorous environmental review process is complete,” Hammond Mayor Tom McDermott said in a press release. “We have mitigated for all environmental aspects of the project including tree replacement, wetland mitigation, identification and protection of Endangered Species, among others.”
The project was awarded $7,029,392 through the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Railroad Administration’s Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant Program. The funding will support the construction of a grade-separated overpass over the Norfolk Southern line east of Parrish Avenue. It will eliminate two at-grade crossings at Parrish and Arizona Avenues.
The new overpass will be integrated into the Governor’s Parkway corridor. The project aims to enhance traffic flow and safety for motorists, pedestrians and emergency responders.
Construction is slated to begin in summer 2026. Completion is anticipated in late 2027.
The project is part of a broader initiative to improve rail crossing safety and efficiency in Northwest Indiana. It addresses concerns raised by residents and first responders regarding blocked crossings and delayed emergency response times.
“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,” McDermott said.
