Letter: Improving existing roads is the right thing to do

Recently, I attended two very different INDOT public meetings: one about improving SR 64 through Huntingburg and another about adding sidewalks along SR 56 through Ireland.

In both cases, I left understanding why the improvements were being proposed, and they made sense. My takeaway was that these are the types of projects INDOT should focus its time, energy, and funding on versus expensive, destructive, new-terrain highways like the proposed Mid-States Corridor that residents overwhelmingly do not want.

Although residents who attended the open houses likely wished INDOT had sought public input before presenting designs that appeared nearly final, INDOT did seem to listen to some feedback and may consider minor modifications.

When it comes to existing road improvements, it is important to get insights from the people who use these roads every day because they best understand the issues. While they may not be transportation engineers, public input should help the engineers understand some issues they may not have considered.

The same approach should apply to U.S. 231 through Dubois and Martin counties: INDOT should improve the existing road instead of pursuing the Mid-States Corridor. Several sections of U.S. 231 could accommodate passing lanes, and traffic flow through Jasper and Huntingburg could be improved.

It is time for INDOT to seek meaningful public input and abandon the proposed Mid-States Corridor.

Mark Nowotarski
Dubois County Resident