Southern Indiana Business Report
JASPER – The next public meeting with the project team for the Mid-States Corridor will be Oct. 22 at 5:30 p.m. at Jasper Middle School.
The meeting will present the latest alternatives being considered and provide the public an opportunity to learn more, discuss access options with the project team, and offer feedback on proposed corridor alternatives.
A press release from the Indiana Department of Transportation described the completion of the Screening of Alternatives report as a milestone in the project’s planning phase.
The goal of the Mid-States Corridor is to improve regional connectivity in southern Indiana. It will connect I-64 to I-69 through Spencer, Dubois and Martin counties. Section 2 of Tier 2 is focused on Dubois County.
The meeting will also announce the decision on whether the corridor will be two lanes or four lanes.
The Screening of Alternatives report will be finalized prior to the October meeting and will include the following:
• Narrow to a reasonable number of alternatives to be carried forward for detailed analysis
• Finalize early fieldwork for screening purposes
• Public/stakeholder input to inform access considerations
• Assess specific access treatments
• Analyze benefits, costs, and impacts
INDOT began Tier 2 studies in 2024 for Section 2 in Dubois County. Tier 2 will further refine project design, determine environmental impacts and specific roadway alignment.
“The Mid-States Corridor is a vital investment in Indiana’s transportation infrastructure,” said INDOT Commissioner Lyndsay Quist. “Continued engagement with members of the public and construction industry reflects our commitment to improving safety and mobility while supporting economic growth in southern Indiana.”
The timeline calls for construction to begin in 2027, which will include final right-of-way approval.
Jasper Middle School is located at 3600 N. Portersville Road. The project has received community support and opposition. A meeting of the Jasper Common Council with members of the project team in August drew more than 150 people, according to the Dubois County Free Press.
Request for Information
Last week, INDOT released a Request for Information to the construction industry to further inform development of the 2027 construction timeline. The RFI seeks input on contract size, types, and other construction schedule considerations. This engagement will help INDOT form procurement strategies and support efficient delivery of the project, advanced by the Federal Highway Administration’s Tier 1 National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) decision to build the highway – the “Build Decision” in 2023.
For more information about the Mid-States Corridor project, visit MidStatesCorridor.com.