Consultant selected for Tier 1 study of Mid-States Corridor
The Mid-States Corridor Regional Development Authority (RDA) and the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) announced they have selected the Lochmueller Group of Evansville as the consultant for completion of a Tier 1 Study for the Mid-S
This selection is the culmination of an intensive two-step selection process jointly conducted by the RDA and INDOT over the course of the past several months, according to a press release from the group.
Next steps in the process will include the scoping of the project and final contract negotiations between the RDA, INDOT and the Lochmueller Group. As has been the case throughout the selection process, the RDA and INDOT will be working together during this next phase of the contract negotiation process, which is expected to commence early this month and is expected to take approximately two months to finalize.
The initiation of the Tier 1 Study is expected to begin immediately following the execution of the contract with the Lochmueller Group, with a projected completion date within two years.
“The completion of the consultant selection process for a Tier 1 Study is a critical first step in the RDA’s ultimate goal of upgrading the existing four-lane U.S. 231 from the Ohio River Bridge in Spencer County (Rockport), Indiana to I-64 and constructing a new/upgraded four-lane highway through Dubois County originating at the I-64 Dale exchange and connecting with I-69,” Mark Schroeder, chairman of the Mid-States Corridor Regional Development Authority, stated. “Lochmueller Group’s expertise, gained from its involvement with the successful construction of I-69 between Evansville and Indianapolis, makes them uniquely qualified to lead this portion of the Mid-States Corridor Project.”
The Mid-States Corridor Regional Development Authority initiative originated as a locally sponsored and funded infrastructure project, which was made possible by recent legislation sponsored by Indiana Senator Mark Messmer and US Senator Mike Braun. This legislation, which was commonly known as Indiana Senate Bill 128, was enacted as of July 1, 2017.
A combination of funding from Jasper, Huntingburg and the county as well as private sources kickstarted the project and allowed it to receive a Federal Project ID number which is necessary to build the highway.
There has not been much public desire to see this built. It has all come from private industry to make “their lives easier”. In other words, it will save them money to have taxpayers pay for a stretch of road that is only necessary for us. If I am not mistaken, one business said it costs them a few hundred thousand dollars to send vehicles down 231 or out of the way to avoid 231. While that is no small amount of money, why should taxpayers be on the hook for $300 million just to save you a few hundred thousand in fuel costs.
I hope this never gets off the ground.
I sure the he’ll don’t want to see a 4 lane highway go through Huntingburg. Looks like we are gonna have to move if this goes through.i
The route of the highway has not been determined yet. This study will help to allow officials to make the decision on where it will be built. No proposal has been made to put a four-lane highway through Huntingburg though.
Hmmm…Indiana won’t/can’t repave the existing US 231 from I-64 to I-69 (it is in bad shape for that entire distance) but they are considering building a brand new highway that only a few businesses and multimillionaires want? …and already wasting tax money on studies and consultants?
I was in favor of I-69. I am not in favor of an unneeded I-67.
I couldn’t agree more with the idea this is going to benefit no one but the big buisnesses and at the cost of everyday working taxpayers. We can’t maintain our current roads and bridges, but they want to build more? Wish my budget worked like that. And if the idea is to get to I-69 then why does the proposed route turn away from 69 and go northeast when going west would be the shortest route? Sounds like a few will benefit at the cost of many.
Then what IS the answer to improving traffic flow on 231 through Dubois County? If one recalls correctly, it has been designated – at least this part of it – as the most heavily traveled 2-lane state hi-way in Indiana, and one of the same in the nation. Trucks, trucks and more trucks, and something like 30,000 daily trips to/from jobs (or vehicles, whatever – can’t recall exactly but the point is, it’s a lot – and way beyond the hi-way’s original design and construction capacity without causing the existing maintenance problems, to include major and repetitive road failures on several sections that need to be completely re-constructed, including sub-structure, drainage, et al, beyond just the surface re-paving. Sorry, but this does virtually nothing other than to aesthetically give this over-burdened road a “new and improved” look – but a “look” only, before being needed again and again – a wheel-spinning, money-waster to be sure. Heck, there are folks in Dale who prefer driving to Evansville and Newburgh to shop/eat – further but oh so easier and nearly as fast – so as to avoid poking along, fighting their way up 231 to north Jasper through all the stops and congestion. And there are those to the north who, more and more, are using out-of-the-way alternate routes down to the interstate rather than the hassles of 231 all the way to I-64. So, again, what IS the answer – if not an alternate/new road to relieve, improve and accommodate both the commercial/economic aspect for trucks/deliveries plus worker’s and everyone’s travel time/schedule and driving experience?