(Indianapolis, IN) – Decades after the concept was first floated, Indianapolis and Evansville are now connected via the newly opened I-69 corridor.
Officials gathered at the I-69/I-465 interchange on Indy’s southwest side Tuesday to mark the milestone.
Crews broke ground on the I-69 extension in 2008 in Southwest Indiana, but the dream of an interstate connecting Evansville to Indianapolis spanned decades.
Gov. Eric Holcomb said the project completes a major economic vision for Indiana.
“The cost of not doing this far exceeded the cost of doing it,” Holcomb contended. “This was an investment in us, this was an investment in our future, this was an investment in realizing our potential.”
According to the Indiana Department of Transportation, I-69 features more than 26 miles of new interstate, more than 35 new lane miles of local access roads, 39 new bridges and 35 rebuilt or replaced bridges and the elimination of 14 traffic signals.
It also reduces travel time from Indianapolis to Martinsville by 11 minutes.
Former Vice President and Gov. Mike Pence spoke at the opening of the highway, telling those in attendance that the project has been dreamed about in Indiana since before the end of World War II.
“It required patience, determination, vision and unwavering commitment,” Pence emphasized. “Since 1944, I’m told, citizens, transportation planners, elected officials always looked forward to this day.”
Crews are working on the finishing touches. I-69 now runs continuously from the Canadian border to Evansville. It will eventually go all the way to the Mexican border.
Holcomb and Pence were joined at the ceremony by former Gov. Mitch Daniels. The event was hosted by INDOT Commissioner Mike Smith.
(Our newsgathering partners at Indiana News Service contributed to this story)
