Letter: Support Property Rights Alliance in fight against Mid-States Corridor

Tom Bartelt of Huntingburg wrote a very informative letter published in the Dubois County Free Press on Dec 13th regarding the impact of the proposed Mid-States Corridor on travel by area residents every day of every year, forever.

What most people in the area don’t realize is that the unwelcome effects of a four-lane divided highway stretching the entire north-south length of Dubois County (roughly dividing the county in two) can easily be seen by looking at the effects of the four-lane US 231 that stretches the entire length of Spencer County. That stretch of US 231 is the precursor of the proposed Mid-States Corridor.

NINE north-south Spencer County roads were cut off and dead-ended by the four-lane U.S. 231. Some were cut off in more than one place because the 4-lane US 231 is serpentine; it is not straight from I-64 to the Ohio River.  THIRTEEN east-west Spencer County roads were cut off and dead-ended.

The results in Dubois County would be very similar. The proposed Mid-States Corridor is also serpentine, meaning many north-south Dubois County roads would be dead-ended, some in several places. And because the proposed corridor runs the entire length of Dubois County, nearly every east-west road would be affected in one way or another. Most would be cut off and dead-ended. A very few would connect to the proposed new highway. Those few connections could be very dangerous at-grade intersections. Or INDOT may even install some crazy J-turn intersections as they did in two locations along US 231 in Spencer County (AFTER many fatalities occurred at the at-grade intersections).

Logic dictates that when roads are cut off and dead-ended, there are negative impacts on emergency response times – police, fire, ambulance.  And those delays will affect more residents than just those who will live near the corridor.

Every citizen in Dubois County, and those from neighboring counties that commute to Dubois County daily, should be angered that they will have to drive miles out of their way every day to reach their destinations. And for what? To save some trucks 2 to 5 minutes to reach Indianapolis?  I-65 and I-69 are already nearby and available for truckers to reach Indy. 

Property Rights Alliance Inc. is a registered non-profit group of local farmers, homeowners and business owners whose property is in the path of the proposed new-terrain highway. Other members in the Alliance have no land in the path but are opposed to the road simply because the proposed project is wrong, unethical and immoral. The Alliance is working to assist affected landowners with guidance and legal representation.

Questions about how you can become a part of the Alliance, and/or how the Alliance can help you protect your property rights against the Mid-States Corridor, can be emailed to propertyrightsalliance@outlook.com, or call 317-250-8766. Spread the word to family, friends and neighbors. New members are welcome and encouraged.

And please consider making a donation to the Property Rights Alliance Inc. to assist them in this important work.  Donations can be mailed to PO Box 64, Jasper IN 47547-0064.

Support the Property Rights Alliance in this fight.  If we stand together and say NO, we can STOP the Mid-States Corridor project.

Sue Krampe
Ferdinand
(A member of the Property Rights Alliance)