CROWN POINT | City officials said they will begin talking to property owners this week regarding land acquisition for the planned Interstate 65/109th Avenue interchange.

City officials received word late last week that it received a finding of "no significant impact" from the Indiana Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration, representing a $10 million investment secured by Rep. Pete Visclosky, D-Ind., the mayor's office reported.

The interchange project, estimated at $17.7 million, will have a major impact on Crown Point and nearby communities, providing a straight shot from I-65 into Porter County and bypassing the congestion of U.S. 30, proponents of the plan have said.

City Engineer Bill Meeks said the city will need to acquire between 20 and 26 acres of land, affecting about 12 property owners.

"There are a couple of farms that will be impacted and a few homes that have been there for a while," Meeks said. "We have attempted to minimize the impact to them as much as possible, but unfortunately some of the properties will have to be acquired and the structures demolished."

Federal law prohibited city officials from talking to property owners prior to getting "no significant impact" designation from federal officials.

However, Meeks said landowners have been calling into the city, hoping to find out more about the project and are "anxious to work with the city to expedite land acquisition."

The project is scheduled to be bid in October, with construction beginning shortly after. The construction schedule calls for the interchange to be open to traffic in November 2009.

Crown Point Mayor David Uran said "this has been no small feat," noting projects of this scope typically take years to complete.

"It's historic for a city to lead the charge on something like this," Uran said. "All eyes are on us. We have to make sure that we dot all of our I's and cross all of our T's."