Southern Indiana Business Report
EVANSVILLE – A $75 million investment is being made in U.S. 231 in Martin and Dubois counties. According to the June 11 announcement by Gov. Eric J. Holcomb, the project will include added travel lanes, passing lanes and intersection improvements at strategic locations.
According to the state, the improvements will significantly reduce congestion in the Jasper and Huntingburg areas and improve safety and mobility throughout the approximately 48-mile corridor from I-64 near Dale to I-69 near Crane. Construction is anticipated to begin by late 2022.
The local work is one of three projects Holcomb announced during the Southwest Indiana Chamber of Commerce’s annual Lunch with the Governor event.
The other two undertakings include extending State Road 101 from U.S. 50 to the Ohio River in Switzerland, Ohio and Dearborn counties, and construction of Indiana’s approach to the I-69 Ohio River Crossing near Evansville.
The approximately $200 million extension of S.R. 101 will connect with the existing portion of the highway at U.S. 50 near Milan and at the Ohio River crossing via Markland Dam near Vevay. The 25-mile new highway extension will provide a direct connection for Dearborn, Ohio and Switzerland counties to both I-71 and I-74 and offer a new cross-river route for freight traffic through the southeast corner of the state. Initial planning for the project will begin within the next year.
Since 2016, Indiana and Kentucky have worked together on developing the I-69 Ohio River Crossing near Evansville. The Indiana Department of Transportation will begin designing the Indiana approach to the Ohio River which includes an interchange with the existing I-69 and Veterans Memorial Parkway and an approximately 1.5-mile new-terrain portion of I-69 approaching the Ohio River, an investment of $200 million. As both states design and build respective approach portions of the project, INDOT and the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet will continue to partner on development of the bridge portion of the project. Once fully connected, I-69 will be a continuous interstate from the U.S.-Canada border near Port Huron, Michigan, to the Kentucky-Tennessee state line.
A total of $475 million in funding is being dedicated to the three projects.
“Indiana’s location and extensive transportation network make our state one of the most attractive places in the country to do business and create jobs,” Holcomb said. “These projects will better connect our communities, enhance commerce within and beyond our borders and deliver value for Hoosiers for generations to come.”
INDOT Commissioner Joe McGuinness called modern, safe, reliable transportation infrastructure a “must have” to compete for talent, growth and job creation in today. He added, “With Indiana’s commitment to taking care of our existing roads and bridges and our investment in major projects, our state is delivering a transportation system that plays a major role in creating one of the nation’s best business climates.”
The announced $475 million in funding complements Holcomb’s Next Level Roads program, a fully-funded 20-year, $60 billion investment in Indiana’s transportation network.