CHICAGO roadmeet
June 24-27 2022
PART 6
Right here, 165th Street in Hammond, Ind., becomes River Oaks Drive in Calumet City, Ill. This intersection felt strange, like it wasn't really in any jurisdiction - kind of like the auto glass shop where the owner used dollar bills to light his cigars. Calumet City was known as West Hammond until 1923.
South on State Line Road. The sign reads, "LOCAL TRAFFIC ONLY; NO OUTLET TO INDIANA." That's because this street gains a median, making Indiana mostly inaccessible to southbound traffic. It's as if Hammond and Calumet City are separate countries. At one point, the Indiana side even gains a concrete barrier next to the median. The barrier was built in the 2010s. It's supposedly a floodwall, but many locals say it has nothing to do with flooding and is more about exclusion. Further south, the Illinois side of the road just curves west onto a side street.
The state line embargo also stretches north of 165th. Here we're on the Hammond side of State Line Road, and this is looking east onto Kenwood Street, which had this obstruction. Google Street View indicates that this barrier is new since 2019.
Another barrier, this one at Wildwood Road. New since 2018!
This barrier blocks Detroit Street. Also new since 2018. One website indicated that the intersections with barriers were to be permanently closed and filled in with topsoil.
Continuing on State Line Road! Indiana is still on the right; Illinois is still on the left.
A view of downtown Hammond from State Line Road.
Another downtown Hammond view!
Downtown Hammond from Sibley Street.
Yet another view of downtown Hammond.
It's the Abominable Hohman! This is Hohman Avenue at Hoffman. I think this road closure was just temporary and was unrelated to the fortresses along State Line Road.
North on Sheffield. Google Street View shows that this street was still straight and looked much different as late as 2019.
Continuing on Sheffield.
Our mandatory Sesame Street reference.
Gostlin Street becomes Brainard Avenue as we cross the state line to Burnham, Ill. Burnham is unusual in that it is split roughly in half by the Grand Calumet River, with no crossing between each half of town.
Brainard again.
Back in Chicago! This is east on 134th.
Surprisingly, this is within the city of Chicago, where 134th bends to the southeast. There is a rail crossing at the yield sign, but the crossbuck is gone.
The other side of the rail crossing. What's so big here is that the yield sign is clearly nonstandard. That's not to mention the nice blue hue added by a graffiti artist.
After we reenter Hammond, 134th becomes 136th.
North on US 41 in Hammond. The bridge is for a greenway. The system of trails contrasts with the treacherous conditions on US 41.
US 41 joins US 12/20 (Indianapolis Boulevard) and goes under a walkway for some large business.
Back on State Line Road. Chicago is on the left; Hammond is on the right. This is just north of a long gap in State Line Road that appears to be filled by a forested area and some small lakes.