Monroe residents still unsure about I-69

The Indiana countryside is active with wildlife, large expanses of sky and lush farmlands. But in Monroe County, some of that land could soon be paved, replacing the grass with concrete and making moonlight into streetlight.

For years, the Indiana Department of Transportation and Monroe County residents have butted heads about the issue of I-69’s new route.

Now that the proposed highway sections 4, 5 and 6 threaten to disrupt their quality of life, residents are speaking out against INDOT as it attempts to dispel their anxiety.

Will Wingfield, public information officer for INDOT. said residents could see the highway as a benefit instead of a detriment to Monroe County inhabitants’ quality of life.

Sections 4, 5 and 6 of the highway will set higher safety standards for visitors and students of IU as well as travelers coming to Monroe County, Wingfield said. The department also presented the construction as an opportunity to create jobs.

“The I-69 corridor could have a major benefit for all the counties it runs through,” Wingfield said. “But it’s important the local communities influence the way they want to see this interstate provide for future economic growth and business.”

What most Monroe County residents said they want isn’t more economic development, but for INDOT to listen and take to heart what they feel could be major impacts of the highway.

“I have a friend who lives five miles away from I-69, north of Indianapolis, and at night he can hear those big semi-trailers barreling down the road, and I don’t want that to affect my quality of life,” Monroe County resident Scott Wells said. “It just doesn’t seem fair that INDOT won’t listen to us.”

At the Monroe County Commissioners meeting Friday, Indian Creek Resident Donna Ferree said the idea of a major highway going through her community is devastating.
Ferree attended another public hearing sponsored by INDOT Thursday in Greene County.

“I went to the meeting Thursday night, and I saw those maps around the room,” she said. “Completely circled around like snakes, and I looked, and I saw everyone I knew.

I saw homes. I saw places. And I could not believe that our community was not standing against this in a different way.”

County Commissioner Mark Stoops said the County’s Resolution 2010-34, which passed Aug. 27, is the commissioners’ counter-argument to the Federal Highway Association and INDOT.

“I don’t think anybody can understand how the state can invest the amount of money they need to get this built when they have so many other needs for those funds,” Stoops said. “Just to fix or maintain the roads we have it would cost close to $5 billion, so all INDOT’s justifications for safety and economic benefit are not comparable to the cost of the new roads and just don’t make sense.”

Stoops also commented that Monroe County has researched alternative routes to identify areas that it would like to protect, as well as areas of possible traffic interruption. The county took those things into consideration while drawing up
Resolution 2010-34.

“Any change to the construction is going to require a lot of work on behalf of the local government and the public along the route,” he said. “And this resolution is just another small aspect of trying to get the state to fully realize the impact that the interstate can have on the county.”