The case against I-69

Inertia is a powerful thing, especially for us Hoosiers. We resisted observing Daylight Saving Time until it was forced upon us in 2005 by a very narrow margin of victory, and now it seems we’re resisting another perfectly reasonable policy: abandoning the planned I-69 route through Bloomington and Martinsville for the more cost-effective, more environmentally friendly and more community-friendly route through Terre Haute via I-70 and U.S. 41.

But if you’re a bit cynical like me, you might think that this current nonsense has more to do with the influence of private business interests than just inertia, regardless of what our state representatives tell us.

I say this because I think Hoosiers value common sense, and if this plan continues, it will be nothing but a waste of our resources.

Don’t believe it’s that simple? Well, in terms of cost, it really is.

The estimated bill for the current I-69 project has nearly doubled since 2003, now at $3.3 billion compared to the estimated $1.78 billion 10 years ago. The alternate proposal, in contrast, is estimated to save Hoosiers $600 million.

That’s a lot of money to spend on Indiana’s other road, bridge and safety needs, which have sorely needed attention this last decade. The backlog cost alone needed to repair Indiana’s infrastructure is $5.4 billion.

For the Hoosier economy, it’s clear the current plan just isn’t the best.

But it’s also the worst environmentally. It eliminates 2,000 acres of forest where 13 colonies of the endangered Indiana bats live, destroys hundreds of underground streams, caves and sinkholes vital to natural southern Indiana’s health and beauty and uproots or negatively affects more than 400 homes and 120 businesses.

The U.S. Department of Natural Resources, the U.S. Department of the Interior and the Environmental Protection Agency have all stated that the alternate route is preferable in light of the environmental damage the current I-69 project will cause.

Furthermore, the local governments that represent the areas in which the current I-69 project will run through have overwhelmingly opposed the construction of the interstate through their backyards.

The Bloomington Common Council, the Bloomington/Monroe County Metropolitan Planning Organization Policy Committee, the Perry Township Board, the Indianapolis Marion County City-County Council, the City Council of Martinsville, the Greene County Council, the Greene County Commission and the Monroe County Commissioners have all formally opposed construction of the current I-69 project.

Anyone who believes in democracy ought to concede that if we listen to those who will be affected by the current project, we ought to oppose it.

So who’s left to support the current plan? Not anyone who cares about cost-efficiency for the state of Indiana, the environment or local democracy.

It’s common sense that the current I-69 project is beneficial to large out-of-state construction companies, who, because of their economy of scale, can offer the lowest bids for contracts, housing and real estate developers, who look forward to big box stores and subdivisions appearing next to the interstate and the quick cash they bring them, and politicians, who benefit from the campaign donations of the wealthy citizens they cater to through these policies.

Still not convinced? Take the word of an economist from IU, Neal Johnson. His cost/benefit analysis for the current I-69 project found that for every dollar invested, only 81 cents would be returned.

I say we’ve had enough bad investments wreck our economy recently — housing, student loans, foreign invasions. Let’s not let this project be our next headache.

­— tydthomp@indiana.edu