Letter: MidStates Corridor cost not worth it
To the Editor,
In regards to the Mid-States Corridor project, I’ve been trying my best to be informed and attempt to keep my personal emotions from clouding my best judgment. Yes, my family’s property is at stake, but am I being selfish? Am I considering only my wants and needs before the betterment of all in Southern Indiana?
Upon voicing my opinions and feelings on the project and its impacts on me personally, I have noticed that MANY people — in fact, almost everyone I have talked to– is against the Mid-States Corridor project. Some have never heard of it. On social media, many are very vocal in their opposition with few voicing approvals. Even people who personally have nothing at stake are taking a strong stance against this project. To me, this speaks volumes. Politicians and business owners — are you listening? Or does your own personal gain trump the potential losses of many of your friends, constituents, and employees?
Research I have come across online suggests that the cost of developing highway infrastructure oftentimes exceeds any financial gain achieved in building it. This is my and many others’ concerns, especially with more and more aspects of life being online. It seems a better investment here is to first improve the technology in this area, including internet and cellular phone coverage, and make improvements to existing roads.
With the price of building the Corridor estimating to be between approximately $7 million (Super 2), $8-13 million (Expressway) and $11-19 million (Freeway) PER MILE, the loss of hundreds of peoples’ property, homes, and farms, and the economic uncertainty, wouldn’t erring on the side of being fiscally conservative be the wisest option?
Caroline Kennedy is quoted: “As much as we need a prosperous economy, we also need a prosperity of decency and kindness”. At this end, let’s also err on the side of human decency and allow preservation of as much property and land as possible, not only for our fellow mankind, but also all the animals that call this area home. So, now I ask, who is being selfish?
Jaima Voegerl,
Dubois
I for one am in favor of the corridor. Why?
1. I’ve lived in the area for 14 years and I can’t recall a day in which US 231 in Huntingburg or Jasper has not had cones or barrels up fixing the roads damaged by the semi trucks that pass thru those communities and destroyed the roads. How much money has been spent over the years repairing those roads and feeder roads?
2. Dubois County offers some of the best products on the market. Kimball furniture, Kimball Electronics, OFS, Jasper Engine, Jasper Group, Meyer, Wabash/Farbest etc. Those manufactures are very competitively priced, however they have a disadvantage when it comes to shipping costs. This highway will help reduce those costs and make Dubois County less susceptible to recessions and higher unemployment.
3. The corridor will aid in future growth. Dubois County is ranked among the best places to live in the country. Our diversity in markets has helped sustain the county. Agriculture, Manufacturing, Healthcare, Education are some of the markets Dubios County offers, however wages could improve with more high tech companies coming to the area, keeping Dubois County workers ahead of the state in Median income.
4. Memorial Hospital has become a regional hospital but yet it still doesn’t offer everything we need here locally in the form of healthcare. The corridor will allow quicker access to Memorial and increase their patient load. The increase in patients will mean an increase in revenue and thus an increase in services. Memorial is a good hospital but it can become great with increased services. It would be great when patients won’t have to drive to Louisville or Evansville for treatment.
Daryl Hensley, Jasper IN
Interesting point of view. If you think that road will bring us all of those things then I certainly cannot begin to alter your ideology. Many other towns heard those same promises and are still waiting for the return on their “investment”. Also, if you think 231 will improve after the bypass is in place you are dreaming.
Joe Keusch – Huntingburg
Especially if MS Corridor goes in the direction of Route O. Does anyone really think that any vehicle heading north will go all the way around French Lick? My thought is that most traffic would still head north via 231.
I’ve also asked “the professionals” about why the areas from Evansville heading north via I69 are still so desolate if these roads are supposed to bring in businesses and economic gains, and I was told that we must give it time. How much time? Another 10 years? 20? By then, all these new roads will need more work at another added expense over and beyond what is costs to build them. That’s the question I have posed: is the economic gain truly worth all the extra costs associated with the MS Corridor? Not just in construction and acquisition of property, but also the loss of income (farmers and other small businesses that will lose money due to less traffic through town), and the loss of the hundreds of families that will probably move away from the area because there is no property in this area to buy and build a homestead. Most of us (if not all of us) live where we do because we have farms or just simply enjoy the country life. We do not want (and will not buy) a lot in a subdivision. If you do not agree that acreage is difficult to come by around here, just ask around. My friend recently purchased her home with acreage and they looked for about 5 years! And now her family is hoping to not lose it to the MS Corridor! And add in another major highway that no one would want to live near, and now there’s even less land to consider.
I am not opposed to new businesses and economic growth. I just strongly feel the infrastructure is already here, it just needs improved and upgraded.
I agree. “The Professionals” think that roads last forever, like in their video games! Big business wins, people lose. Game Over! Their $ is all they think about. Ten-fold the big businesses’ gas tax for road work and see what they think about shorter routes! ‘Little Pink Houses’ for you and me.
They need more “cool springs” land. Who cares about everyone else.
Mr Hensley obviously isn’t facing having his home destroyed .
If the route ran through my house, I would take the money and move. Of course, I believe a house is for shelter. I have lived in 6 different houses.
Being 60 years old, I have lived long enough to see many dream homes sold for cheap when people pass who valued their home as their most important asset. I believe family, God and friends are way more valuable.
Daryl Hensley, Jasper
You obviously don’t live on property that once belonged to your great-grandfather. My dad acquired this property in the 1980s with the hopes that his 3 children could stay if they chose. Two out of the three of us did. How many children do you know that can grow up next to their great-grandfather next door, their grandparents, their aunt and uncles and their three first cousins just a short walk through the woods away? They walk the same trails in the woods that I walked as a kid. How do you even possibly think of rebuilding a home when you poured your heart and soul, blood, sweat, and tears into designing and building your home, literally building most of it with our own two hands? How can you possibly turn back time to 15 years ago when we were 25 and newlyweds without children and build every barn again, set every fence post for our animals’ pastures again? In case you’re thinking about it, Mr. Hensley, let me tell you… you can’t! It can’t be done. If that bulldozer comes through our property, my husband’s, children’s, and my way of life will be stripped from us forever. This is OUR HOME! Nowhere else will ever be HOME! And I’m truly sorry you’ve never experienced that.
To those small businesses that this will by-pass. May wake to the sound of silence, if that is what they want?
Many in my possible route believe that there is an Indian burial ground. We don’t want to reveal this to the public, but telling it to the “route experts” would only leak out and digging would start! I have seen beautiful parks and campuses ruined over the years because heavily traveled footpaths were cemented into sidewalks to “shorten the distance”. Take the longer way and enjoy the scenery !