Check out the new photos from Section 3 of the Interstate 69 project in Indiana!
The Section 3 corridor spans from US 50 to US 231, which is approximately 25 miles in length.
Last evening, officials from the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) held a public hearing regarding the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for Section 4 of the Interstate 69 project in Indiana.
The required hearing was supposed to be an opportunity for property owners in Greene and Monroe County to learn more about the proposed route within the identified two thousand foot corridor and to receive information on land acquisition, etc. The last part of the hearing was devoted to public comment/feedback.
Instead of allowing property owners to engage in a constructive dialogue, representatives from CARR, HEC, B-TOP, Sierra Club and a long line of local officials from the City of Bloomington showed up to “shout” their overall opposition to the I-69 project.
Disappointing to say the least, but not surprising.
Fact is that I-69 is already being built and this state is moving forward.
As mentioned last week, the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) are holding a public hearing for the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Section 4 of the Interstate 69 highway on August 26th, just south of Bloomfield, Indiana.
Since the announcement, highway opponents (CARR, B-TOP, HEC, Sierra Club) have put out a “call to action” for its members to attend the hearing and protest the construction of I-69.
While opponents have traveled far distances over the years to protest I-69 at hearings/meetings throughout Southwest Indiana, one thing has changed…the decision on whether or not to build I-69 is over.
Construction has begun and plans are in place to reach Bloomington by 2014.
The DEIS public hearing is an opportunity for property-owners living in Greene/Monroe County to become better educated on the exact location of the highway within Section 4 and to provide INDOT and FHWA with feedback on the route (within the identified corridor).
Out of respect for those property-owners directly impacted, the Hoosier Voices for I-69 organization will NOT participate in the effort to turn the August 26th hearing into a rally “for” or “against” the I-69 project.
The decision has been made to complete I-69. It is now time to plan for development and ensure proper measures are taken to accommodate those directly impacted.
The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) will hold a public hearing on the Tier 2 Draft Environmental Impact Study (DEIS) for Section 4 of the Interstate 69 extension on the evening of Thursday, August 26th.
In a press release, INDOT states that the “DEIS recommends a preferred alignment for the highway within the fourth portion of the federally approved 142-mile I-69 corridor.”
Section 4 is approximately 27 miles in length and includes portions of Greene and Monroe County with the majority in Greene County.
Here are the details for the public hearing;
Location:
Eastern Greene Middle School (10503 East SR 54 near Bloomfield)
Time:
5:00 pm (EDT)
* INDOT officials will start the hearing with a formal presentation of the DEIS and will take public comments following. If you cannot attend the hearing and would like to provide comment, send written comments to Gary Fisk at DLZ Indiana, LLC (P.O. Box 8464, Evansville, IN 47716) by September 28th.
The Evansville Courier and Press reported today on the remarks of Stan Lampe, President of Kentuckians for Better Transportation that were recently made to the Green River Area Development District Board of Directors.
Lampe reinforced the importance of the I-69 highway and praised state leaders in Kentucky for including $50 million in the new state budget for I-69 related projects/improvements.
A few quotes from Lampe are worth highlighting;
“It’s not an issue any more of when I-69 will happen. I-69 is happening now.”
“If you have an interstate highway, a parkway or an international airport in your county, your average income is 56 percent higher than average incomes in counties that don’t have such infrastructure.”
Great points that make the case for completion of the I-69 corridor!
On an upcoming show of InFocus, the topic “Interstate 69 Controversy?” will be discussed by a panel of experts.
InFocus is a live, 30 minute monthly production, airing on WTIU and WFIU in Bloomington, Indiana.
The advertisement for the August 26th starting at 8:00 pm (Eastern Time) states;
“For years, there has been debate about the construction of I-69. Governor Daniels has announced that drivers will be able to commute from Evansville to Bloomington by the end of 2014.”
If you visit the InFocus website, the public can submit comments that may be used as a part of the show.
We encourage all of our followers and highway supporters to make their voice heard!
As the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) has been released for Section 4 of the Interstate 69 extension in southwest Indiana, the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) is sharing plans to mitigate environmental impacts from the new highway.
According to the Bloomington Herald Times, the efforts are explained for both sites, which total approximately 154 acres;
“The mitigation would be completed at certain ratios such as a 3-to-1 ratio for forest impacts. Meaning if one acre of forest is impacted, then three acres would be mitigated.”
“The scope of work involved includes reforestation and wetland and stream development on fallow field and agricultural land. Existing forests within the mitigation sites will be preserved.”
As work continues on this important economic development project, the efforts to preserve and mitigate environmental impacts should be commended.
Late last week, the Draft Environmental Impact Study (DEIS) for Section 4 of the Interstate 69 extension in southwest Indiana was released for public viewing/comment.
According to the press release, “Section 4 begins at US 231 near the Crane Naval Surface Warfare Center and generally runs northeast to SR 37 just south of Bloomington.”
Following the DEIS comment period, the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) will be sent to the Federal Highway Administration which will issue a Record of Decision (ROD) that allow for construction to begin.
On Thurday, August 26th at 5 p.m. EDT, a public hearing will take place on the Section 4 DEIS in the Eastern Greene Middle School gymnasium near Bloomfield.
This week, the Mississippi Business Journal reported that the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) has been completed for a 120-mile stretch of the new Interstate 69 through Mississippi’s Delta.
Next steps will include public hearings on the FEIS before the Federal Highway Administration can issue a Record of Decision (ROD), which would allow construction to begin.
Great news for the national I-69 corridor!
Check out the photos from the groundbreaking ceremony held yesterday in Washington, IN for Section 3 of the Interstate 69 highway in Indiana.
