Plans moving ahead for I-65 widening in northwest Indiana

State officials are moving ahead with plans for adding a third lane to a stretch of Interstate 65 in northwestern Indiana that's a heavily traveled route into the Chicago area.

Gov. Mike Pence announced Tuesday that the $70 million project will add the additional lanes for more than 10 miles from near U.S. 30 in Merrillville to at least the Indiana 2 interchange near the Lake County town of Lowell. Previous projects have widened the highway north from U.S. 30 to Interstate 80-94 in Gary.

The state now has construction projects under way adding lanes to I-65 near Lafayette and just south of Indianapolis.

Pence has faced criticism over the condition of Indiana's highways, particularly with the month-long emergency closure of an I-65 bridge near Lafayette over the summer.