After Bloomington 'no' to I-69, state says nothing has changed

Bloomington and Monroe County sent a clear message to state and federal authorities at a meeting May 13 after excluding the proposed Interstate 69 extension from their annual transportation plan.  

The I-69 extension, which would create a more direct route between Evansville and Indianapolis, would bypass most of the city to the west. The Bloomington and Monroe County Metropolitan Planning Organization , which plans for the community’s transportation needs, did not include the proposed I-69 extension in its annual transportation plan after the extension drew heavy ire from citizens.    

However, Cher Elliott, media relations director at the Indiana Department of Transportation, said this decision by the community does not change the work that is already taking place on the proposed project.

Construction continues on Sections 1-3 of the proposed extension, nearly 65 miles of highway from Vanderburgh County to Crane, Ind., Elliott said.

Environmental Impact Statements for Section 4, which cover the route from Crane to the south of Bloomington, are still being worked on, she said.

“At this time, we are continuing the survey and geotechnical investigations for the project to continue to move forward,” Elliott said.

Elliott stressed that the decision was a planning decision and not a financial one.

The MPO’s decision not to include the I-69 extension in its annual transportation plan does not mean that federal or state dollars will be unavailable should construction move forward. Firthermore, the project will simply exclude the community’s coordination for the next year.

— J. Edward Calabro