(Michigan City, IN) - The much-anticipated construction of a truck stop and other commercial businesses along Interstate 94 outside Michigan City appears back on track. 

 

Love’s Travel Stops and Country Stores has signed an agreement to purchase a 10-acre parcel near the old Waste Management Landfill.  Matt Reardon with the LaPorte County Office of Economic and Community Development said the years in the making project was held up because of a conflict over a fuel pipeline discovered on the property. He said the pipeline issue getting resolved opened the door for the purchase agreement between the truck stop chain and landowners, US 421 Partners, LLC.

 

Reardon said the key now is getting water and sewer lines extended underneath Interstate 94 to serve the truck stop and other potential developments. Extending utilities and construction of the truck stop could start before the end of the year since all of the design work was finished before the delay.   “These are all positive steps that have already been taken so we’re not at a cold start here,” Reardon said.

 

Commitments to tie into the utilities have been received from existing businesses like the Harley Davidson store. Brand name hotels, restaurants, and a few retailers have also signed letters of intent to build near the truck stop as long as there’s access to water and sewer.

“This is an important project,” he said.

 

Reardon said the estimated $4.5 million utility extension will be paid with tax dollars generated by an increase in property values from the truck stop, a federal economic development grant now being sought, or both.   Hotels and the new Franciscan hospital are on the north side of the Interstate 94 and U.S 421 interchange. This would be the first major growth on the south side of the interchange.