U.S. Route 30 in Indiana

Infobox road
state=IN
type=US
route=30
alternate_name=Lincoln Highway
length=151.8 mi (244.3 km) [ [http://illi-indi.com/EndsPage.php?id=2030&section=1 Indiana Highway Ends - US 30] ]
direction_a=West
terminus_a=Jct|state=IL|US|30 at Illinois state line
direction_b=East
terminus_b=Jct|state=OH|US|30 at Ohio state line
cities=Schererville, Merrillville, Valparaiso, Plymouth, Fort Wayne
established=
previous_type=SR
previous_route=29
next_type=US
next_route=31In the state of Indiana, U.S. Route 30 is an east-west four-lane divided highway across northern Indiana. It runs from the Illinois state line at Dyer to east of Fort Wayne at the Ohio state line. This is a distance of 151.8 miles (244.3 km).

Route description

Dyer to Valparaiso

U.S. 30 enters Dyer from Lynwood, Illinois along the original alignment of the Lincoln Highway. It has four lanes from the state line through the densely populated cities of Dyer, Schererville and Merrillville. East of U.S. Route 41, U.S. 30 becomes a divided highway, and remains largely divided through the rest of the state.

East of Merrillville, U.S. 30 runs through rural areas until reaching the outskirts of Valparaiso. It runs through the southern portion of Valparaiso as Morthland Avenue before leaving the city at a full interchange with Indiana State Road 2.

Valparaiso to Fort Wayne

U.S. 30 continues eastward [Indiana 2000; Indiana Department of Transporatation] , along the original Lincoln Highway right of way, diverging around each town. At Wanatah, it meets with U.S. Route 421, running from Michigan City, Indiana on Lake Michigan southward towards Indianapolis and later the Ohio River.

Beyond Wanatah the countryside is primarily rural. U.S. passes by Hanna and then runs over the Kankakee River. Following towns of Hamlet, Grovertown, and Donaldson are all traffic lights with a gas station or a convenience store. [Annual personal travel along this route since 1991] Plymouth (Convert|63|mi|km|0 from Illinois border) is the next major city. The road passes to the north of town. Here, there are two intersections of store and restaurants.

Beyond Plymouth is again rural divided highway, passing Inwood, Bourbon, Etna Green, and Atwood [Indiana 2000; Indiana Department of Transporatation] . Twenty-six miles beyond Plymouth, is Warsaw and a five miles of shopping. This is the most congested section of U.S. 30 in the state. (Around Fort Wayne there will be more traffic, but the route is interstate and designed to carry the larger volume.)

From Warsaw it's convert|20|mi|km|0 to Columbia City and another grouping of shops and stores. Columbia City is a convenient stop as it's convert|21|mi|km|0 from Fort Wayne and it's easier to get on and off U.S. 30 than in Fort Wayne. [Annual personal travel along this route since 1991]

Fort Wayne to the Ohio state line

Approaching Fort Wayne, U.S. 30 is joined by U.S. Route 33 from the north and soon after, Interstate 69 (abbreviated I-69). Here, U.S. 30 will join with I-69 North. The junction of U.S. 33 is immediately before the I-69 South turn and then you sweep across the interstate and it's an immediate right, looping down onto the freeway.what It's about convert|6|mi|km|0 north to U.S. 30's interchange to I-469 East. In this short distance, there is heavy traffic and two interchanges with the northeast side of Fort Wayne. The exit for U.S. 30 is located on the right side, traveling northbound.

At I-469, the area again is becoming rural. I-469 East runs around the north and east side of Fort Wayne. There is little development along this route (2007). It is convert|12|mi|km|0 to where U.S. 30 leaves I-469, east bound for the Ohio border. A few services have developed just beyond the I-469 interchange. The last convert|14|mi|km|0 are all rural, with no identifiable towns along the route. [Annual personal travel along this route since 1991]

References