Letter: Are you against the Mid-States Corridor?
I know many people breathed a sigh of relief last week when they found out the proposed Mid-States Corridor wasn’t going to impact them personally. I’m happy for you. I’m also happy it won’t be impacting the Hoosier National Forest. But don’t forget about your neighbors and friends on the east side of Jasper and other areas who stand to lose a great deal if this road is built.
If you were opposed to the road prior to the preferred route being announced but now you don’t have a personal stake in it anymore, can I urge you to keep being involved, keep attending the public comment meetings, keep voicing your opposition? The people who will be impacted still need your voice.
Whether you are against the road due to the negative impact on the environment, farms, wildlife, people’s homes, pollution, human and drug trafficking, or a myriad of other reasons, please attend the public comment meetings next week and let your voice be heard.
While there may be highlights of this preferred route not impacting wetlands and karst features which are important, this route DOES have the highest total number of acres impacted and the highest impact on every land use category (forests, agriculture, developed, and other) according to the Evansville Courier Press.
Sadly, approximately 149 community members, their farms, homes, and/or businesses will be displaced by this road. Where are those 149 displacements supposed to find homes, farmland, or reasonably priced business locations within Dubois County? I suspect many will leave the area if their homes and land are taken from them because they won’t all be able to find something similarly situated in this area.
Land is scarce and expensive. That precious beautiful land will soon be dug up and replaced with concrete and traffic for a road that is not needed.
The “preferred” route parallels a road we already have, US 231. Does this make sense to spend billions of dollars and displace so many people for a route that we essentially already have, all to save a couple of minutes driving to Indianapolis?
Info on meetings:
Tuesday 4/26 at West Gate Academy 13598 East Westgate Drive Odon, IN
Thursday 4/28 at Jasper Arts Center 951 College Ave Jasper, IN
Both meetings are from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
You can sign up to speak at the door. You’re allowed two minutes. Write it down and read it to ensure you say all you want to say in two minutes. Research and provide data and references if possible. You can also submit written comments. I encourage both.
If you are not personally impacted by the route, but still don’t want a new road, please for the sake of those losing their homes, businesses, and land, be willing to stand up and advocate for your fellow community members.
Thank you,
Marisa Durcholz, Jasper
Marisa’s comments are spot on. Any new terrain highway is going to negatively affect so much more than just the area around proposed route P. There are so many factors the DEIS doesn’t cover. And it won’t stop there. Next thing other businesses will want connector routes to their area. This nonsense of thinking that building new highways will bring in more and more business is outdated thinking and example after example proves it doesn’t work.
Love the route they are settling on. Our main highways are extremely dangerous. They are too busy and the terrain makes these local roads a risk to drivers.
Throughout our countries history, people have been displaced so we, as a society can make progress into the future.
Answer this, how long does it take to drive from the south side of the county to the north side? The time will be cut almost in half. Can you imagine how much safer our roads in Jasper and Huntingburg would be without all of the pass-through traffic. As it is, you drive Newton St, nd you’re taking your chances of an accident every time.
I for one am glad that we are progressing with this project.
MSD would you be willing to give up your home just so a someone can save 5 minutes driving from one end of Jasper to another? This road is an out-dated solution to problems that don’t exist. Fix the road we have and leave people alone. The Mid-States Corridor is another example of the legislators that care nothing about the constituents.
Roadway overcrowding is a serious safety issue. As we all know, Dubois County continues to grow. Where do we go to alleviate the already oppressive trave times in our small to medium sized communities? We must build roads. Divided highways or no, our infrastructure is lagging behind the times badly. If you need an example, just travel from anywhere south of SR 64 and go to our nearest Walmart in Jasper. Disgraceful for a county that considers itself a leader in anything. This new highway is not about you or me. It’s about our future generations. We may not “need” it now, but our descendants will. This may just be our last chance to move us into the 21st century. A century that is nearly a quarter through. Living behind the times can be a great hing. But not when it creates safety problems or inhibits SUCCESSFUL and PROPER growth.
Right on. How long can people put up with all those 53 ft trailers going thru 6th & Newton. A big bus take was made when this road was not built about 20 years ago &. 40 years before that. Don’t miss this window again & force Jasper to make some one way street North & South . Now that will disrupt way more people and just delay the problem for the next generation
Describe what progress means to you. I am interested in hearing your definition.
Names please ! Initials , nicknames , aliases ? What are you afraid of ? Can’t use actual name , keep comments to yourself . My opinion .
Poppycock. Get off of your high-horse…you/we all know if this comment had been against the project you wouldn’t have uttered a peep about the writer’s anonymity.
Poppycock ? Mac McDonald you don’t know me and I don’t think I know you . I definitely don’t know MSD . You don’t have to agree with those against this highway and they don’t have to agree with those for it , but if you can’t comment using your own name you’re just trolling to stir up trouble .
Say hi to Wayne for me!
I’m right here. You can do it yourself unless you’re too scared.
Hi wayne! Say hi to mark for me.
Sorry that so many will lose when the new road goes in. But also sorry the new road took so long to get going. It should be a huge help to alleviate traffic through communities.
I am so upset with the potential loss of farmland from this road. I will lead by example. I am going to go home tonight and tear down my house so the soil can be used for farming.