Even if construction on the planned extension of Interstate 69 through southwest Indiana bypasses recent legal roadblocks, its economic impact on Grant County could still take years, according to local officials and businesspeople.
The proposed federal highway would span across the state and connect Indianapolis and Evansville, which supporters say will increase access and spur development all along its corridor. However, the road has yet to be built and its path will cut through southwest Indiana communities that have taken steps to delay it or stop it completely.
Travelers account for many of the customers at the Marion Days Inn near I-69. Assistant manager Jennifer Smith said most out-of-state travelers come from Kentucky or Ohio, but not so much Illinois, which could benefit from I-69 access in southwest Indiana.
“I know if it were me, I’d rather go down I-69 than (Ind.) 37,” said Jennifer Smith, an assistant manager at Days Inn. “I’m not a speed demon, but it’s quicker.”
Future University of Southern Indiana freshman Robbillie Stevenson said it took her about six hours to drive from Grant County to Evansville for college visits.
“It’s never really a straight shot,” she said. “I’m completely directionally challenged, so if I could have a straight shot somewhere it would be great.”
Marion director of development Darren Reese said the city was looking long-term at the extension.
“It’s going to continue to develop out, energize the growth between Indianapolis and Fort Wayne because the numbers are going to go up and that’s what most (businesses) that are looking at an interstate exit are looking for,” he said. “I’d say it’s going to look more and more like a ‘megaplex.’ I’d say in a 100 years, we probably won’t be able to discern much between Fort Wayne and Indianapolis and, by then, certainly down to Evansville.”
This vision of future development and its possible environmental impact has not proved popular in parts of southwest Indiana.
In May, the Bloomington/Monroe County Metropolitan Planning Organization approved a transportation plan without the section of I-69 that will stretch through the county. Last week, a group of Monroe County landowners informed state and federal officials of their intent to sue over violations of environmental laws during the construction of the highway.
MPO director Josh Desmond said beyond environment concerns, many people have serious questions about the road’s funding.
“There are a number of people that are not convinced we have funding to build it from here to Indianapolis,” he said. “The problem is wherever it ends, it’s dumping that traffic out there.”
Desmond said concern over possible negative impacts, during and after construction, has made people wonder whether the road will affect the quality of life in that area. He said that until recently, the Indiana Department of Transportation had not given much cooperation or coordination with concerns.
At this time, INDOT has not approved the revised plan, leaving future construction in limbo, Desmond said. Marion mayor Wayne Seybold said Monroe County is only delaying the inevitable.
“It’s ridiculous to hold something up that’s probably going to become the most significant freeway in the United States because it will be the shortest distance between Mexico and Canada,” he said. “To me, it’s just short-sightedness.”
Desmond said there were strong arguments on both sides, but that Monroe County was concerned with the interstate’s impact on its quality of life.
“Some say it’s worth it to gain few minutes, others say it’s not worth it at all,” he said. “Environmental studies can certainly be argued in both directions. Then there’s the ongoing debate about whether it will really bring the jobs they say it will.”
While the debate goes on in southwest Indiana, it passes mostly unnoticed by the workers and businesses at Grant County I-69 interchanges.
“We are probably 200 yards away (from I-69),” said Stephen Payne, owner of Payne’s Custard and Coffee Shop in Gas City. “We feel it is an asset to us to pull people from it in here.”
Though he emphasized the importance of the interstate to helping his business, Payne said his business was an exception to his neighbors around the Gas City interchange.
“There’s not a lot of independent places on the road anymore,” he said. “There’s lots of cookie-cutter places, so it’s a chance to break out of that.”
Reese said Columbus was an example of a city to incorporate development around an interstate without “losing its soul.”
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