Up to 416 homes in the path of I-69

Official just released another step in the extension of I-69 from Indianapolis to Evansville. They have chose this alternative from 11 others, which this seems to have the least eviromental impact, with the out way of economic impact.  This route is going to connect Indianapolis, Martinsville, Bloomington, Crane, Oakland City, and Evansville. 

Just last week I drove the route on 37 from Indianapolis to Bloomington, I can personally say that this is a much needed up grade.  Indianapolis is the major economnic center of the Central Indiana Region, and in order for it to prosper we need the infastructure to insure the movement of people and goods.  Personally I would rather see a rail proposed from Indianapolis to Evansville, the impact of the eviroment would be much less and it would create less pollution than a new I-69.  Or at least if we were to get a rail to Bloomington to Indianapolis that would be great, and help people commuting from the campus at IU to Indianapolis for jobs and other events.

Any thoughts on the new Interstate that is going to be cutting its way through southwest Indiana and all of the rolling terrain? Here is the article that they just published from Indystar (www.indystar.com). 

Up to 416 homes stand in I-69's path

Officials have taken another regulatory step toward expanding Interstate 69 by releasing a 1,000-page environmental impact statement that outlines why they chose the 142-mile route to link Indianapolis and Evansville. The state and federal governments released their "Final Environmental Impact Statement" Monday. The document includes expected effects on the economy, traffic, property and ecosystems. The selected route, chosen over 11 alternatives, will connect Evansville, Oakland City, Crane, Bloomington, Martinsville and Indianapolis. The route will require between 366 and 416 homes and 68 businesses to be moved and will cost between $1.73 billion and $1.83 billion, the impact statement said. The route will save drivers 27 miles compared to existing roads connecting Indianapolis to Evansville. And it will not jeopardize threatened or endangered species, the document said. Developers say I-69 will also affect the economy. "This interstate is probably the biggest economic development tool this region has ever seen," said Steve Schaefer, executive director of Hoosier Voices for I-69 and vice president of the Southwest Indiana Chamber of Commerce. The document released Monday is a key step to getting federal funding for construction on the first stretch of the I-69 expansion -- a 13-mile span from Interstate 64 near Evansville north to Oakland City. Officials hope to start construction on that section in late summer or fall of 2008. The release of the document means that the "actual footprint" for the first section of interstate construction has been selected, said Indiana Department of Transportation spokesman Andy Dietrick. The report will be reviewed by the Federal Highway Administration. If officials there agree, federal funding will be able to be used for the first section of expansion. The final road design will determine what property the state needs to acquire using eminent domain. "Until we are at 70 percent of design, we are not sure exactly which parcels and what portions of which parcels will need to be purchased for the roadway," Dietrick said. "As soon as plans reach that level of certainty, homeowners and landowners will be contacted as quickly as possible."