Letter: Making U.S. 231 improvements still the better option

The information published in the Mid-States Corridor Study, and continued narrative from the proponents of this study would try to get you to believe that because of all the past studies done over the decades, that it is proof the Mid-States Corridor is needed.

What is interesting to note is that there is a report that was published in November of 2018 titled “US 231 Corridor Assessment” that was submitted to the Indiana Department of Transportation by WSP which was never made public. The only reason I can think of why it was not made public was because it was not favorable to the mission of the Mid-States Corridor.

This 15-page report concludes that INDOT should consider making improvements using intermittent passing lanes on US 231 between I-69 and Huntingburg. Passing lanes can be spaced between 3 and 10 miles apart with opportunities that include 16 miles from I-69 to Loogootee, the 17 miles from Loogootee to Jasper, and the 4 miles from Jasper to Huntingburg. In addition, the report recommends “Road Safety Assessments (RSAs) at spot locations which is a formal safety performance examination of the existing road or intersections. In other words, identify improvements that can be made at key intersections.

It is interesting to note that these recommendations for adding passing lanes and improving intersections were what Governor Holcomb outlined in 2021 and announced with a commitment of $75 million to start in 2022.

So why was this report buried? It seems to follow a pattern of lack of transparency by the proponents of the Mid-States Corridor, the Lochmueller Study Group, who are getting paid millions to do the study, and the Regional Development Authority. Ultimately, it was not what key business owners advocating for the Mid-States Corridor wanted.

Along with passing lanes and intersection improvements on U.S. 231 through Dubois and Martin Counties, there are other improvements that can be made on existing roads through and around Huntingburg and Jasper for routing truck traffic that can be made for a fraction of the cost and without the devastation to personal property, farmland, and the environment. Let’s Make U.S. 231 Great Again!

Mark Nowotarski
Dubois County Resident