Ind. recognizes incorrect placement of billboards

MERRILLVILLE, Ind. – The Indiana Department of Transportation is trying to get a better handle how many billboards sit along the state’s highways after a federal agency found problems in Indiana and threatened to withhold $90 million.

The state agency lists 12 permits for billboards along Interstate 65 in Lake County, for example, but the Post-Tribune of Merrillville counted more than 60 along that route.

The signs advertise businesses including fast food restaurants, adult bookstores and wrongful injury lawyers.

Indiana’s current inventory includes about 17,500 billboards, although not all are active and some may have more than one permit.

The Federal Highway Administration found numerous problems in Indiana detailed in a report last year, including billboards placed in areas prohibited by federal law, permits granted to blank billboards, size-standard violations and spacing issues.

“Had an active inventory been in place, many of the issues discussed in this report may have been avoided,” the administration wrote.

In addition to fixing the issues found in the report, INDOT is trying to update its billboard inventory to prevent further problems.

The federal agency has threatened to withhold $90 million from Indiana under a provision of the Highway Beautification Act because of the perceived lack of billboard control.

INDOT is working to correct the problems, which can’t be blamed on any particular party, Demuth said.

The Post-Tribune asked INDOT for copies of all billboard permits in Lake and Porter counties. The agency provided copies of 115 permits for billboards along interstates and several other roads, but the count seemed to be missing many advertisements.

A newly updated inventory could help resolve those disparities.