Greene County, Crane need I-69

Good article on I-69 Nick Schneider. The naysayers need to get on-board with I-69 and become a part of the solution, not part of the problem.

They need to become involved with what the interchanges in their area will look like and the businesses that desire to settle around them.

This interstate highway from Canada to Mexico has been planned for 15 or more years and the general route has not changed much over those years. The very idea that a few people in and around Bloomington can stop a couple of miles of a 2,000 mile federal interstate highway is ludicrous.

All the naysayers have accomplished is increase the cost by throwing up legal objections that cost money to respond to by INDOT, the Federal Highway Administration and others (these government bodies have been overly patient).

Also, they stretch out the time lines for completion with these actions which, with inflation, such as steel prices, fuel prices and labor rates increase the cost of construction. Then they have the shameless audacity to complain about the increased cost associated with I-69. However, they can pound their chests and proudly proclaim they fought the government.

In BRAC 2005, two of the major deficiencies concerning the NSWC/NSA Crane were the lack of a nearby interstate and a tech park. Both of those are now being addressed. The rural counties surrounding Crane would suffer depression era levels of unemployment should Crane close or be substantially reduced in its employment. Not only would the jobs at Crane and WestGate be lost, but a multiplier effect would cost hundreds of other jobs in the area such as vendors supplying Crane, restaurants, gas stations, etc. Local financial institutions would own more houses and cars than in their worst nightmares should Crane close.

I wish a route "B" was chosen which tied I-69 into route 37 north of Bloomington and passed through NE Greene County and just east of Bloomfield, however, it was not chosen.

This would have relieved Bloomington of much of its anxiety and saved numerous chest bruises.

My biggest concern with I-69 is with our friends and neighbors that are loosing their homes or land.

Hopefully INDOT is being generous in dealing with them. I feel for those that are loosing their homes.

You are correct Nick, "it's safe to say the new highway is coming."

John is owner of First Security Insurance Agency in Bloomfield, Linton and Worthington, and serves on the Greene County Redevelopment Commission and the WestGate Authority. He can be contacted by email at johnmensch@1stsecurityinsurance.com .