INDOT Mileage Estimates Confirm Trivial
Differences Among Route Options
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On December 1, the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) released mileage estimates for 14 possible routes for an extension of I-69 between Evansville and Indianapolis. INDOT's data confirms what opponents of a new terrain I-69 have said for years: The "common sense" alternative of upgrading US 41 to Interstate standards and connecting to I-70 via a bypass around Terre Haute is only a few miles longer than even the shortest, environmentally and economically destructive "new terrain" route. INDOT estimated the US 41/I-70 route to be approximately 155 to 158 miles long, and the shortest new terrain route to be 139 to 146 miles. Ten miles difference is trivial considering the enormous economic and environmental costs of a new terrain road.

INDOT intends to reduce the 14 possible routes to three or four during the next year. INDOT also plans to hold a round of public meetings on the route selection process early in 2001. Keep checking this site for more information!

INDOT's mileage estimate study is available here

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