I-69 (From Crane to Bloomington) Update

[MyTeamIsOnTheFloor]

Dang near done.

Some you Evansville people, southwest Indiana people - I expect to hear about some traffic jams due to all you folks heading to games on the new road.

Some folks who post here lost homes/property to make it easier for you to refugee north, so make that sacrifice meaningful.


http://www.in.gov/indot/projects/i69/images/Section_4_ConstructionMap.pdf

 

[Sope Creek]

We drove I-69 almost from B-town down to I-64 in mid-July, and it was a great ride. We didn't see so much as a gas station or McDonalds the whole route . . . and the countryside was beautiful and completely unmarred by billboards. That ain't gonna last, so if you want to see interstate travel the way God intended it to be, go for a ride down I-69 . . . .

We went west on 45 or 445 (I can't remember which) from B-town to I-69, and while that was a nice ride too I think it would be a pain in even moderate traffic. So how well E'ville Hoosiers travel may depend on how done the section getting into B-town is.

 

[BigRedFootballEd]

We drove I-69 almost from B-town down to I-64 in mid-July, and it was a great ride. We didn't see so much as a gas station or McDonalds the whole route . . . and the countryside was beautiful and completely unmarred by billboards. That ain't gonna last, so if you want to see interstate travel the way God intended it to be, go for a ride down I-69 . . . .

We went west on 45 or 445 (I can't remember which) from B-town to I-69, and while that was a nice ride too I think it would be a pain in even moderate traffic. So how well E'ville Hoosiers travel may depend on how done the section getting into B-town is.

It is coming thru btown now and it is a royal pain in the a$$.

 

[JM (IU)]

We drove I-69 almost from B-town down to I-64 in mid-July, and it was a great ride. We didn't see so much as a gas station or McDonalds the whole route . . . and the countryside was beautiful and completely unmarred by billboards. That ain't gonna last, so if you want to see interstate travel the way God intended it to be, go for a ride down I-69 . . . .

We went west on 45 or 445 (I can't remember which) from B-town to I-69, and while that was a nice ride too I think it would be a pain in even moderate traffic. So how well E'ville Hoosiers travel may depend on how done the section getting into B-town is.

I've driven this route a few times this summer. I assume traffic will pick up once the Crane-Bloomington segment creates a direct four lane route from Indy to Evansville. But man, it is really desolate out there. There was one point, in the middle of the afternoon on a weekday, where there was not a single car in sight either in front of me or in my rear view mirror. It is a different experience without the usual fast food signs, etc, but it's a bit of a headache if you need to use the restroom.

 

[oldcougar77]

I've driven this route a few times this summer. I assume traffic will pick up once the Crane-Bloomington segment creates a direct four lane route from Indy to Evansville. But man, it is really desolate out there. There was one point, in the middle of the afternoon on a weekday, where there was not a single car in sight either in front of me or in my rear view mirror. It is a different experience without the usual fast food signs, etc, but it's a bit of a headache if you need to use the restroom.

The exit at Washington, In is the only one that has experienced any development at this point because it is the only exit that connects with another reasonably busy highway (US 50). The other exits will mostly be "off-and-back-on-again" stops except where the interstate connects with 37 at Bloomington at the northern end, or intersects I-64 in Evansville.

Once the link to Bloomington is complete, there will be enough traffic on I69 to make retail development at the exits between Evansville and Bloomington profitable. Much of the farmland next to the other exits is already being discussed/negotiated for retail development but final purchase and construction will not take place until that northern connection is made. Some land has already been sold or contracted for commercial development but for now it is more valuable planted with crops than truck stops or fast-food joints. Development at the exits will occur without a doubt. Evansville to Bloomington travelers will see plenty of food/restroom options by next football season (2016).

The million-dollar question is if I69 will bring desperately-needed jobs and industrial/commercial development to the areas along the route. The decision many years ago to run I64 in the middle of nowhere (rather than along US 50 and/or the Ohio River) did nothing for economic development for the areas between Louisville and Evansville. Hopefully the presence of Crane near one end, Toyota near the other, and a strong economic development organization in Washington in the middle will generate better results for this highway.

 

[LBW]

Dang near done.

Some you Evansville people, southwest Indiana people - I expect to hear about some traffic jams due to all you folks heading to games on the new road.

Some folks who post here lost homes/property to make it easier for you to refugee north, so make that sacrifice meaningful.


http://www.in.gov/indot/projects/i69/images/Section_4_ConstructionMap.pdf

Thanks MTIOTF. I am one who lost a home to this project. One that I had lived in at 3 months old. I still cannot bring myself to go past that place since the house has been torn down. I come up old 37 from the south instead of going by That Road.

 

[indyclark]

I live in Carmel now but grew up in Petersburg. There's a great BBQ place there now that's a half mile off the exit called 423 Smokehouse. http://www.423smokehouse.com/

I would recommend it to anyone whether you dine in or carry out. Great tailgating food!

I wish they would put a another restaurant right off the exit. I know they've gone ahead and laid all of the water and electrical all the way out to I-69 for future development.

 

[Fro]

We went west on 45 or 445 (I can't remember which) from B-town to I-69, and while that was a nice ride too I think it would be a pain in even moderate traffic. So how well E'ville Hoosiers travel may depend on how done the section getting into B-town is.

Here's the quick rundown:
- I-69 from Crane to Bloomington opens by the end of this year
- Upgrade of SR 37 to I-69 from Bloomington to Martinsville is scheduled to open by the end of 2016. They should have all the stoplights on SR 37 out by the 2016 FB season.

It's specifically in the contract for the construction on SR 37 that they have to have 2 lanes open in each direction on IU Football game days.

 

[Big Red Believer]

The exit at Washington, In is the only one that has experienced any development at this point because it is the only exit that connects with another reasonably busy highway (US 50). The other exits will mostly be "off-and-back-on-again" stops except where the interstate connects with 37 at Bloomington at the northern end, or intersects I-64 in Evansville.

Once the link to Bloomington is complete, there will be enough traffic on I69 to make retail development at the exits between Evansville and Bloomington profitable. Much of the farmland next to the other exits is already being discussed/negotiated for retail development but final purchase and construction will not take place until that northern connection is made. Some land has already been sold or contracted for commercial development but for now it is more valuable planted with crops than truck stops or fast-food joints. Development at the exits will occur without a doubt. Evansville to Bloomington travelers will see plenty of food/restroom options by next football season (2016).

The million-dollar question is if I69 will bring desperately-needed jobs and industrial/commercial development to the areas along the route. The decision many years ago to run I64 in the middle of nowhere (rather than along US 50 and/or the Ohio River) did nothing for economic development for the areas between Louisville and Evansville. Hopefully the presence of Crane near one end, Toyota near the other, and a strong economic development organization in Washington in the middle will generate better results for this highway.

The only thing I dislike about I-69 is it is on the wrong side of Loogootee and Washington. Jasper and Dubois Cty is more of an economic hub than both of the other two. I-69 is of absolutely no help to us. Now we are campaigning for another interstate between I-64 and I-69 that would connect us to the North and South and enhance our East-West accesses.

 

[Marvin the Martian]

It would be great if it is on time. It seems to me that section 5 is already behind schedule. My intersection was scheduled to close in May, it is still open. Section 4, the point of the link, is supposed to be done by the end of the year. Of course the original contract had it done by the end of last year but 4 months of winter put them a year behind. I don't get that math. We went out over to Harmony and Carter roads and it sure doesn't look 75% done to me, but I'm hardly an expert. They suggest once they get to paving it goes really quickly. What concerns me is this is typically the dry season. Paving in the October-November when we imitate Seattle seems to invite weather challenges.

I hope it is true they have all the lanes open for IU football games. It took me close to an hour to get to Martinsville last Friday afternoon. I could only imagine what it would be like in the football/leaf season Saturdays if that continues.

 

[BillyMak]

Two lanes open - not sure that is true.... I know the city of Bloomington specifically negotiated that at all times there would need to be two lanes open in each direction but I wasn't aware of that being the case in between Bloomington and Martinsville. There is a law (federal I believe) that says there must a minimum 8' distance between the moving lane of traffic and the dropoff where they have excavated into the median (I recall this distance applies when there is more than a x" dropoff between the lane and the shoulder). I don't know how they would get a second lane added that quickly for that 15 mile stretch.

 

[history Bill]

The exit at Washington, In is the only one that has experienced any development at this point because it is the only exit that connects with another reasonably busy highway (US 50). The other exits will mostly be "off-and-back-on-again" stops except where the interstate connects with 37 at Bloomington at the northern end, or intersects I-64 in Evansville.

Once the link to Bloomington is complete, there will be enough traffic on I69 to make retail development at the exits between Evansville and Bloomington profitable. Much of the farmland next to the other exits is already being discussed/negotiated for retail development but final purchase and construction will not take place until that northern connection is made. Some land has already been sold or contracted for commercial development but for now it is more valuable planted with crops than truck stops or fast-food joints. Development at the exits will occur without a doubt. Evansville to Bloomington travelers will see plenty of food/restroom options by next football season (2016).

The million-dollar question is if I69 will bring desperately-needed jobs and industrial/commercial development to the areas along the route. The decision many years ago to run I64 in the middle of nowhere (rather than along US 50 and/or the Ohio River) did nothing for economic development for the areas between Louisville and Evansville. Hopefully the presence of Crane near one end, Toyota near the other, and a strong economic development organization in Washington in the middle will generate better results for this highway.

I wouldn't say I-64 did nothing for economic development between Louisville and Evansville. Let me tell you about Corydon and Harrison County. Since I-64 came in Harrison County has become one of the fastest growing counties in Indiana and has almost doubled in population. The Corydon exit has more services for travelers than any exit in this segment with numerous motels, restaurants and stores. Downtown Corydon has thrived with our increased tourism. Attendance at the Corydon Capitol State Historic Site is one of the best of any of the state historic sites. The population of the Corydon area has at least tripled since the interstate arrived.

The I-64 route is the most direct way between Louisville and Evansville. It is absolutely beautiful and passes near some of Indiana's most significant historical and natural attractions: Corydon, Wyandotte Cave, Marengo Cave, Squire Boone Caverns, Indiana Caverns, O'Bannon Woods State Park, Harrison-Crawford State Forest, Hoosier National Forest, Blue River and Cave Country Canoes, Holiday World,St. Meinrad Archabbey, Ferdinand State Forest, Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial, Lincoln State Park, Historic New Harmony and Harmonie State Park. It may be very rural but it is one of the best natural, historic and scenic areas in all of Indiana.

 

[MyTeamIsOnTheFloor]

I wouldn't say I-64 did nothing for economic development between Louisville and Evansville. Let me tell you about Corydon and Harrison County. Since I-64 came in Harrison County has become one of the fastest growing counties in Indiana and has almost doubled in population. The Corydon exit has more services for travelers than any exit in this segment with numerous motels, restaurants and stores. Downtown Corydon has thrived with our increased tourism. Attendance at the Corydon Capitol State Historic Site is one of the best of any of the state historic sites. The population of the Corydon area has at least tripled since the interstate arrived.

The I-64 route is the most direct way between Louisville and Evansville. It is absolutely beautiful and passes near some of Indiana's most significant historical and natural attractions: Corydon, Wyandotte Cave, Marengo Cave, Squire Boone Caverns, Indiana Caverns, O'Bannon Woods State Park, Harrison-Crawford State Forest, Hoosier National Forest, Blue River and Cave Country Canoes, Holiday World,St. Meinrad Archabbey, Ferdinand State Forest, Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial, Lincoln State Park, Historic New Harmony and Harmonie State Park. It may be very rural but it is one of the best natural, historic and scenic areas in all of Indiana.

Lincoln State Park and Boyhood Memorial are wildly underrated.
They were the background for some of the happiest years of my life.

 

[oldcougar77]

I wouldn't say I-64 did nothing for economic development between Louisville and Evansville. Let me tell you about Corydon and Harrison County. Since I-64 came in Harrison County has become one of the fastest growing counties in Indiana and has almost doubled in population. The Corydon exit has more services for travelers than any exit in this segment with numerous motels, restaurants and stores. Downtown Corydon has thrived with our increased tourism. Attendance at the Corydon Capitol State Historic Site is one of the best of any of the state historic sites. The population of the Corydon area has at least tripled since the interstate arrived.

The I-64 route is the most direct way between Louisville and Evansville. It is absolutely beautiful and passes near some of Indiana's most significant historical and natural attractions: Corydon, Wyandotte Cave, Marengo Cave, Squire Boone Caverns, Indiana Caverns, O'Bannon Woods State Park, Harrison-Crawford State Forest, Hoosier National Forest, Blue River and Cave Country Canoes, Holiday World,St. Meinrad Archabbey, Ferdinand State Forest, Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial, Lincoln State Park, Historic New Harmony and Harmonie State Park. It may be very rural but it is one of the best natural, historic and scenic areas in all of Indiana.

The development around Corydon is still in my opinion due to proximity to Louisville and nearly all of that development is relatively recent and commercial in nature. My point was that I64 led to very little if any industrial development in the region. It was not an economic job creator for southern Indiana or Northern Kentucky. An interstate route following US 50 from Cincinnati to St. Louis with a spur to Louisville would have better developed the region with an accompanying interstate across northern Ky from Louisville to Henderson and through Owensboro. Instead, political powers in Evansville politicked the original US 50 route south through mostly undeveloped, underpopulated territory.

My hope is that I69 generates more than commercial development along its route. I love travelling I64, it is a beautiful stretch of road across southern IN. It just did very little to lift the economy of one of the more economically-depressed regions of Indiana. Service-sector jobs at motels, restaurants and tourist attractions are nice, but can't lift a community or region out of poverty.

 

[iubud]

Dang near done.

Some you Evansville people, southwest Indiana people - I expect to hear about some traffic jams due to all you folks heading to games on the new road.

Some folks who post here lost homes/property to make it easier for you to refugee north, so make that sacrifice meaningful.


http://www.in.gov/indot/projects/i69/images/Section_4_ConstructionMap.pdf

What is done already saves 30 minutes on trips to Indy. The bonus is we no longer have to go through Terre Haute. We can get to Btown in just under 2 hours now. It will be well under 2 hours once we can avoid the 45 mph drivers on the two lane coming into town.

Besides time, it will save gas, and be safer. As long as kids have been driving up to IU from Evansville, parents have worried about those roads. Getting off of 57 and the coal trucks has been a big improvement. One area to be careful of is deer. When they opened the first section of I69, deer were getting hit daily.

It is interesting that I69 never seems busy. In fact, there are kids using sections of it for drag racing. There was a recent article about it in the paper. It would be nice to have a gas station between Eville and Btown at some point. I appreciate all those that gave up their land so the 3rd largest city in the state could have a direct route to Indy!

 

[JM (IU)]

The development around Corydon is still in my opinion due to proximity to Louisville and nearly all of that development is relatively recent and commercial in nature. My point was that I64 led to very little if any industrial development in the region. It was not an economic job creator for southern Indiana or Northern Kentucky. An interstate route following US 50 from Cincinnati to St. Louis with a spur to Louisville would have better developed the region with an accompanying interstate across northern Ky from Louisville to Henderson and through Owensboro. Instead, political powers in Evansville politicked the original US 50 route south through mostly undeveloped, underpopulated territory.

My hope is that I69 generates more than commercial development along its route. I love travelling I64, it is a beautiful stretch of road across southern IN. It just did very little to lift the economy of one of the more economically-depressed regions of Indiana. Service-sector jobs at motels, restaurants and tourist attractions are nice, but can't lift a community or region out of poverty.

Well, your first paragraph could be summarized as "too bad the entire interstate system wasn't designed with southern Indiana in mind." Everything I've read is that it was always going to connect Louisville and St Louis, but it was just a matter of going north or south. Would connecting Paoli, Washington, and Loogootee to the interstate system at the expense of Evansville have been a net economic gain for Indiana? I tend to doubt it. Interstates aren't a panacea. As 64 shows, they don't guarantee good jobs.