I had written earlier on the Edmonton post about road construction and how it impacts the teams. Turns out, I was a prophet.
The Indiana Dept. of Transportation (also known as INdiots) decided Friday to close Interstate 65 North from I-80 for NINE months to do bridge repairs. This is a major highway, obviously, and a very important link for South County fans to get to the Steel Yard.
Since it will be closed all summer, it will force fans to find alternate routes through Gary, which is tedious driving with dozens of stop lights and the perception of night crime.
The team, according to spokesman Tom Nicholls, hasn't had a chance to even weigh in on this. At least INdiot has given them more than the standard 48 hours notice!
My hunch is that RailCats attendance will be severely affected by this, and I do mean SERIOUSLY.
The alternative, the state said, was to close it a little at a time and take two years to do the work or close it all for the entire construction season and do it all at once. For the uninitiated, NW Indiana is a constant battle with road work and the state is inclined to close down several routes at the same time all heading the same way, simply because the construction companies that are in the area can share heavy equipment that way.
Getting to the Yard will be a challenge. But I will be there.
The Indiana Dept. of Transportation (also known as INdiots) decided Friday to close Interstate 65 North from I-80 for NINE months to do bridge repairs. This is a major highway, obviously, and a very important link for South County fans to get to the Steel Yard.
Since it will be closed all summer, it will force fans to find alternate routes through Gary, which is tedious driving with dozens of stop lights and the perception of night crime.
The team, according to spokesman Tom Nicholls, hasn't had a chance to even weigh in on this. At least INdiot has given them more than the standard 48 hours notice!
My hunch is that RailCats attendance will be severely affected by this, and I do mean SERIOUSLY.
The alternative, the state said, was to close it a little at a time and take two years to do the work or close it all for the entire construction season and do it all at once. For the uninitiated, NW Indiana is a constant battle with road work and the state is inclined to close down several routes at the same time all heading the same way, simply because the construction companies that are in the area can share heavy equipment that way.
Getting to the Yard will be a challenge. But I will be there.
