Construction begins on I-69 in Indiana

March 11, 2008 - Construction of the controversial Interstate 69 in southern Indiana began without fanfare today. Yesterday, anti highway activist, Tom Tokarski was searched and detained for attempting to shoot pictures at the site where numerous trees were removed, today.

Trees were the first victims of the highway construction because they had to be removed prior to the in-migration of endangered Indiana Bats which use trees as nesting spots beginning in April.

Indiana has appropriated $700 million for the section from Evansville north to Crane Naval Station but construction cost escalation will build far less of the highway than that and it is unclear if money will be available after the $700 million runs out. It is estimated the highway from Evansville to Indianapolis will cost at least $4 billion.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• NAFTA
• I-69
• Indiana
• environmental
• destruction

[dave2118]

Tear it all down!

[ecoserve]

What does that mean? Should we destroy all trees, and farmland to pay homage to trucks moving goods into the midwest from China?

[acurabud2]

Hey genius, if they build I-69 people will have a shorter route to travel and will use less gas and emit less pollution. Join the 21st century.

[yoopersportsman]

Wow, with a couple thousand acres behind that house, looks like someone built too close to the road!?

[Konman91316]

If we really want to join the 21st century then we ought to be investing in our national rail network. Having to use a car to get from A to B as the only way around is outdated and has been perpetuated since the 1950s. We need to move beyond that.

[BlopSlop]

@vlasktom where did you get that from, mapquest?

[BlopSlop]

@acurabud2 I agree

[BlopSlop]

@diaryofawimpykidmom your comment is dumb and barbaric. Think before you say something.

[lestersimmons82]

I-69 extended from Indianapolis to Nashville would be ideal for Peyton Manning.

[diaryofawimpykidmom]

kill them!

[mrmaster728]

Finally! Maybe people will stop being killed on the dangerous State Roads when they drive from Evansville to Bloomington. This is the best idea that has come to Indiana in a long time, other than the light rail industry back in the 1940s. Before you open your big mouth about me being some sort of Environmental Hitler, perhaps you should see the benefits of this Interstate. I expect my comment to met with serious repression.

[ozmanusaa]

The route was decided in 1955, not 2005. Anything built on the route since then risked being taken. Folks who already lived along the route and family farms that will be split up or ruined over this do have my sympathies, but more recent construction was always a crap shoot. And they lost. My neighbors will suffer the loss of a very productive grain farm. Others will certainly gain in the economic boon. Most of the route is through low economic production zones (even for Indiana).

[killswitch489]

tom use ur brain its part of the NAFTA superhighway