Mother Nature has given us one more reason why the Illiana Expressway needs to become a reality.

We already know that our primary east-west corridor, the Borman Expressway, is one of the deadliest stretches of road in the nation, and now the flooding on the Borman, which led to days of road, lane and ramp closures, further illustrates the need for an alterative route between the Indiana and Illinois border, one that does not detour large trucks and commercial and passenger vehicles through our local communities, creating a deluge of traffic and congestion from drivers unfamiliar with local roads and forced off the expressway without a clear direction of how to find their way back on route.

As Realtors, we sell Indiana every day. However it will become increasing difficult to sell a congested area. This failing infrastructure must be addressed.

We encourage a proactive approach to increasing the quality of life for the citizens of Northwest Indiana. We encourage continued discussions that will result in the Illiana Expressway being constructed.

Thelma Nolan, 2007 President, Greater Northwest Indiana Association of Realtors, Merrillville