This rendering shows what the monuments along I-69 at both the north and south ends of Martinsville will look like once complete. INDOT COURTESY IMAGE
This rendering shows what the monuments along I-69 at both the north and south ends of Martinsville will look like once complete. INDOT COURTESY IMAGE
MARTINSVILLE — Anyone who has driven along the Ind. 44 bridge over the future I-69 in Martinsville and along Ind. 39 and Ind. 37 on the city's south side have probably seen two large monuments taking shape.

Both monuments are part of the I-69 Finish Line Project and will help welcome motorists as they travel along the future interstate.

Officials from the Indiana Department of Transportation, city, county, Walsh Construction and aesthetics committee were present Thursday for a short dedication ceremony for the monument located near Ind. 44.

I-69 Finish Line Project Manager Sarah Rubin said she was excited to participate in Thursday's ceremony.

"I live and breath I-69 Finish Line every day," Rubin explained. "Every day I'm excited to get up and work on this, and I'm so excited to be able to share this with you all."

Rubin took time to thank the INDOT team that is helping on the I-69 work, as well as crews from Walsh Construction — the main contractor for the project's Contract 2.

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After thanking the crews, Rubin turned her attention to the Ind. 44 monument.

Both the Ind. 44 monument and the one being constructed near the Ind. 39 interchange are designed to look similar to the clocktower at the Morgan County Courthouse in downtown Martinsville.

This rendering shows what the monuments along I-69 at both the north and south ends of Martinsville will look like once complete.
During the environmental process of the project, INDOT coordinated with local stakeholders to determine how the interstate and its features should look like in and around Martinsville.

An aesthetics committee was formed to help make some of these determinations.

"That aesthetics committee was vital to figuring out what would Martinsville want," Rubin noted. "You all decided you wanted something that paid tribute to your community, aligned with your courthouse and it has turned out beautifully."

The Ind. 44 monument is not quite complete as blue glass has yet to be installed on the structure.

"I wanted to take the opportunity to thank you all for the time and effort you contributed during NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) and during the design phase, and I want to thank the field team, Walsh and their subs, for doing such a beautiful job in assembling a monument that will be here in Martinsville for years to come," Rubin said.

HNTB Senior Project Manager Tim Miller said that the limestone for the monuments came from Monroe County and that the color of the brick matches the Morgan County Courthouse.

HNTB is assisting INDOT on the I-69 Finish Line Project.

Miller noted that the blue glass in the monuments will represent the artesian wells that made Martinsville famous.

"You'll see a transition of blues," Miller noted. "And that blue transition is meant to be movement of water."

There will also be plants placed at the foot of each monument.

State Rep. Peggy Mayfield said she wanted to thank the aesthetics committee for its work.

"In my time in local government, in 92 counties, we all have our unique courthouses," Mayfield said. "But this is just iconic, it is recognizable immediately as our county courthouse clocktower. It is just great to have it and I look forward to taking this exit and being able to see it up close when it's finished."

Martinsville Mayor Kenny Costin said that the monuments will help market the city to bring in visitors and future residents.

Another feature of the I-69 Finish Line aesthetics through Martinsville is the Grand Valley Overpass Bridge.

The bridge has been nominated for two industry awards — one of which can be voted on for a People's Choice Award.

To cast your ballot visit the website https://americastransportationawards.org/.

Votes can be cast until 11:59 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 25.
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