Governor Daniels opens I-69

[quote style=”boxed”]”Today’s a great day to remember what it was all about. It’s about a better future for young people, it’s about more jobs and more hope and more opportunity.” Gov. Mitch Daniels[/quote] Governor Daniels cut the ribbon across the northbound lanes of I-69 this morning as the 67 mile interstate between Evansville and Crane opens to traffic later on today.

The Governor was joined by Lt. Governor-elect Sue Ellspermann, Congressional Representative for District 8 Larry Buchson, Evansville Mayor Lloyd Winnecke in addressing the crowd of several hundred who gathered at State Road 68 and I-69.

After the ribbon cutting, Governor Daniels summed up the event. “Today’s a great day to remember what it was all about. It’s about a better future for young people, it’s about more jobs and more hope and more opportunity.”

Daniels in his address, spoke about the jobs and economic development that is brought to the area with the new interstate. Those sentiments were echoed by Lt. Governor-elect Ellspermann. “Well, it’s just important that we continue to make the investments in infrastructure and understand the importance that they play in having vibrant economies in all of our communities,” she said. “As Governor Daniels said, it’s been a missing link in southwest Indiana for many years and as Norm Baffuno (President of Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indiana) said, the ‘missing spoke’,we need that and we need to make sure that we allow prosperity and encourage prosperity across the state.”

After the ceremony, the Governor got onto his motorcycle and lead a procession northbound up I-69 to their next destination, U.S. 50, just east of Washington, and then later with Crane officials at U.S. 231, near the Crane entrance.

The barricades were removed allowing access to the interstate at about 5 p.m. on Monday.