Major subcontractor again stops I-69 work on Section 5, awaits payment

Crider & Crider, the contractor responsible for earth-moving operations related to upgrading of 21 miles of Ind. 37 between Bloomington and Martinsville to interstate standards ceased work on the project Monday.

"All our equipment is lined up," said Don Conard, superintendent with Crider & Crider. "None of it's running."

Conard said the work stoppage is related to Isolux Corsan USA not meeting payment deadlines, something that has happened before. He said crews stopped working this past winter and again in March.

The Indiana Finance Authority issued a notice of nonperformance to I-69 Development Partners on March 31 after several contractors were not paid in a prompt manner. The state finance authority entered into a contract with I-69 Development Partners to design, build, finance, operate and maintain the 21 miles of I-69 between Bloomington and Martinsville in February 2014. I-69 Development Partners then contracted with Isolux to design and build Section 5 of the interstate. Isolux entered into its own, separate contracts with companies such as Crider & Crider to complete the project.

Officials with I-69 Development Partners told The Herald-Times in May that contract disputes between Isolux and its subcontractors that halted some work on the project in March had been resolved. However, the expected completion date was moved from October 2016 to June 28, 2017. That delay caused Fitch Ratings to downgrade the private activity bonds the state finance authority issued on behalf of I-69 Development Partners to finance the project to junk status.