NW Ind. county council opposes Illiana Expressway

CROWN POINT, Ind. -- A northwestern Indiana county council has passed a resolution opposing the proposed 47-mile tollway linking Interstate 65 with I-55 south of Chicago.

The Lake County Council voted Tuesday against the proposed Illiana Expressway even though it has no say in the matter. But councilwoman Christine Cid of East Chicago will be among members of the Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission casting a vote on Thursday. She voted against the proposal.

The Times of Munster reports Cid questioned why state officials are willing to pour $1.5 billion into the highway to relieve truck traffic congestion while failing to rebuild East Chicago's Cline Avenue Bridge that was demolished for safety reasons in 2009. Cid says that has led to more truck traffic through city neighborhoods.