U.S. 20 West - South Bend to Portage

U.S. 20 at the junction with U.S. 35, just east of Michigan City in LaPorte County. U.S. 35 goes for 412 miles from Michigan City to Knox, Logansport, Kokomo, Muncie, and Richmond on its way toward West Virginia where it ends at Interstate 64. Here, U.S. 35 follows U.S. 20 west to the junction with SR 212 west of Interstate 94.

05/23/10

A cloverleaf junction facilitates movements between U.S. 20/U.S. 35 and Interstate 94. Interstate 94 stretches for 1,580 miles from Billings, Montana to Port Huron, Michigan. The interstate loops around the southern tip of Lake Michigan as a six to eight lane highway from here to Chicago.

05/23/10

West of the Interstate 94 interchange, we are in Michigan City (population 31,479). Michigan City is best known for its Lake Michigan beaches, harbor and lighthouse that attract visitors from Chicago and Northwest Indiana. Here, an interchange connects with SR 212, a short connector highway to U.S. 12.

05/23/10

A loop ramp carries traffic from westbound Michigan Boulevard to U.S. 20 south. At this point, U.S. 35 ends as well. In 2009, the state decommissioned U.S. 35 from U.S. 12 to U.S. 20 and gave control to Michigan City. Gary becomes the primary control city for U.S. 20 traffic heading west.

05/23/10

South on U.S. 20, a guide sign directs traffic along another loop onto eastbound U.S. 20/U.S. 35, heading to South Bend and LaPorte respectively.

05/23/10

U.S. 20 crosses a railroad track to the south of interchange with Michigan Boulevard.

05/23/10

South of the railroad crossing, U.S. 20 is 30 miles from Gary and 60 miles from Chicago, Illinois.

05/23/10

U.S. 20 bypasses Michigan City from the east and south, following the route of Interstate 94. The highway remains four lanes throughout Michigan City, since it was the original bypass of Michigan City prior to the interstate.

05/23/10

U.S. 20 approaches the intersection with Franklin Street, which carries U.S. 421 to the south of U.S. 20. U.S 421 at one time began a couple of miles to the north at U.S. 12. As with Michigan Boulevard and U.S. 35, U.S. 421 was truncated to U.S. 20. South of there, the highway connects with Interstate 94 and the Indiana Toll Road as it travels 232 miles across Indiana via Westville, Indianapolis, Greensburg and Madison. Overall, it travels for 941 miles to Wilmington, North Carolina. At this intersection is the Marquette Mall, serving Michigan City.

05/23/10

West of the Franklin Street/US 421 South intersection, the highway keeps its four lanes as it heads west toward the Town of Pines.

05/23/10

U.S. 20 approaches Hitchcock Street/County Road 1100 West, which serves the Indiana State Prison and Lakeside Correctional Unit.

05/23/10

U.S. 20 heads west out of Michigan City and into rural Porter County. U.S. 20 continues to the southwest as a four lane highway on its way toward Porter and Portage.

05/23/10

U.S. 20 at the intersection with SR 520. SR 520 is the state's shortest highway, going for only 1,000 feet as it connects U.S. 20 with U.S. 12. U.S. 20 continues to the southwest on its way toward Portage, Gary, and Hammond on its way to Chicago.

05/23/10