I-69 leaves state divided

On Thursday, Governor Frank O'Bannon held a press conference to announce his choice for an Interstate 69 route through southern Indiana. His preferred route is a $1.7 billion project that will turn State Road 37 into part of the new interstate, bringing I-69 through Bloomington. A majority of the money for the project will come from federal funding, provided the federal government approves the plan. I-69, when completed, will be the "superhighway" connecting the United States, Canada, and Mexico.\nThis news is good for business, but bad for birdwatchers. The route chosen is reported to have to pave over some Monroe county farmland, damage local water supplies and cut through the Patoka Wildlife Refuge in Oakland City. Even the Oliver Winery, a local landmark, may be affected. If the route stays how it is planned, it could pave over the winery..\n The new road will lessen travel time between Indianapolis and Bloomington, giving students, faculty and guests a safe and efficient way to access Bloomington and IU, much safer than State Road 37 has been in the past. The governor also claims the new interstate will foster the creation of new jobs and contribute to economic growth in southern Indiana. \nThe new direction for southern Indiana has been set. The governor and mayor of Bloomington are supporting the industrialization of southern Indiana, trying to entice factories and other manufacturing and shipping companies to the new transportation corridor of the state with this I-69 investment.\nToyota and AK Steel of Evansville were two very big supporters of I-69, as were many major companies in Indianapolis.\nIn a contrasting note, the studies commissioned by the governor's office on all of the possible routes for I-69 have not been completed yet, but the governor said when the first study is done, a second will be commissioned.\nWhy waste more money on a project that has so cleanly divided the community? If the decision has already been made, why study it any further? The state will need all of the money it can gather to pay for the actual construction of the road. Part of the cost of building I-69 will involve buying land from people whose property sits in the way of construction. The state should save it's money to pay these citizens a higher price for their land, because their deal can't get any worse -- they must sell to the state or risk being taken to court or being built around. Imagine your house being in the middle of an interstate ...\nLike every major undertaking, the I-69 project has numerous pros and cons, and they all mean different things to different groups. The environmentalists are of course furious about this decision, but the factory owners and business people are jumping for joy, especially paving contractors. But the people of Terre Haute, the people that wanted I-69 just as badly as, if not more than the people of Indianapolis and Evansville, got left in the dark.\nThe state's elected representatives, including the governor, need to take more time to consult with the people about large projects. A solution isn't a solution when large groups of people are left out of the process.\n\nGeorge Lyle IV for the Editorial Board.