FORT WAYNE, Ind. Heavy rain pounded northeast Indiana Wednesday morning, turning a busy stretch of I-69 into a slow-moving mess for thousands of commuters. Water covered parts of northbound lanes between Goshen and Lima roads, forcing drivers to crawl through the flood zone while INDOT crews worked to clear it.
By late morning, the agency reported the flooding had drained and all lanes reopened.
The sudden deluge caught many drivers off guard during the peak commute hours. INDOT first flagged the problem around 6:30 a.m., warning that the left northbound lane was partially blocked by standing water. Traffic cameras showed long lines of brake lights as vehicles merged right and slowed to a cautious pace.
“It looked like a river running across the interstate,” said Fort Wayne resident Mike Callahan, who was headed to work in Auburn. “I’ve never seen it flood that fast.”
Separate Crash Compounds Southbound Headache
While crews focused on the northbound flooding, a separate crash shut down the left southbound lane just north of Hursh Road. Indiana State Police and INDOT responders closed the lane for about an hour while they cleared the wreckage. No serious injuries were reported, but the incident backed up southbound traffic for several miles during the morning rush.
The double whammy of water and wreck turned the usual 15-minute stretch from Union Chapel to Dupont into a 45-minute crawl for many drivers.
Flood Warning Remains in Place
The National Weather Service continues a Flood Warning for Allen and DeKalb counties until 1:30 p.m. Wednesday. Meteorologist Liz Braden with 21Alive First Alert says while widespread flooding is not expected, pockets of heavy rain could still cause water to pool on roads, especially in low-lying areas and poor-drainage spots like parts of I-69.
Between 1 and 3 inches of rain fell across the Fort Wayne metro from midnight to 9 a.m., with isolated areas picking up closer to 4 inches. The ground was already saturated from rain earlier in the week, leaving little room for the new downpours to soak in.
History of Flooding on This Stretch
Drivers who travel I-69 regularly know this section between Goshen and Lima roads floods almost every time heavy rain moves through. The interstate sits in a low spot near the St. Joseph River feeder ditch, and drainage improvements have lagged behind the rapid growth in the area.
Local leaders have pushed INDOT for years to raise the roadway or install bigger pumps. A $240 million reconstruction project set to begin in 2027 will finally elevate parts of this corridor, but residents say they can’t come soon enough.
Safety Reminders for Driving in Floods
INDOT and Indiana State Police issued the same urgent reminder they always do when water covers roads:
- Never try to drive through standing water if you can’t see the pavement
- Six inches of moving water can sweep a car off the road
- Turn around, don’t drown – it only takes 12 inches of water to float most vehicles
- Slow down and turn on headlights when visibility drops
First responders say they still see far too many drivers attempt to plow through deep water, leading to stranded vehicles and dangerous rescues.
Morning Cleared, But More Rain Possible
By 10:45 a.m. Wednesday, INDOT confirmed all flood water had drained from the northbound lanes and the earlier crash scene was cleared. Traffic returned to normal speeds in both directions.
The forecast shows another round of showers and storms possible Wednesday evening into Thursday morning. While nothing as heavy as the overnight batch is expected, any additional rain on saturated ground could quickly create new trouble spots.
Fort Wayne drivers are keeping their fingers crossed the rest of the week stays dry.
What did your commute look like this morning? Did you get caught in the backup on I-69? Drop your experience in the comments below.
