Letter: What are INDOT’s priorities?

Recently, Leslie Bonilla Muñiz reported in the Indiana Capital Chronicle that INDOT is cancelling or postponing over 300 planned projects because of a lack of funding. According to Overdrive’s Truckers’ 2025 Highway Report Card, Indiana is the worst state in the nation for highway conditions. Purdue LTAP and INDOT studies show Indiana needs $900M–$2.4B more per year just to maintain or improve local roads. Locally, INDOT hasn’t even bothered to seal the cracks on the existing U.S. 231 between Jasper and Huntingburg, virtually guaranteeing an obstacle course of potholes come spring. 

Clearly, there is a problem. How do we solve it?

According to the Governor and INDOT, the answer appears to be build the Mid-States Corridor and ignore everything else. At their recent Mid-States Corridor Industry Day, they revealed they plan to advertise for the first contracts for the construction of the road this month (https://www.in.gov/indot/files/Mid-States-Industry-Day-Handout.pdf) and begin the construction of the section around Jasper next summer. 

Remember, there are still studies going on that must be completed before the Federal government gives final approval for this project. The studies must be completed before they can begin eminent domain proceedings against the landowners who do not want to sell, which, based on the recent poll results, is likely to be almost every one of them. It’s going to be interesting to see how they get this done, since they plan to start construction the same month they receive final approval.

Citizens all over this state need to reach out to their representatives to let them know they need to rein in INDOT and the Governor and demand that existing infrastructure needs to be prioritized over new construction. 

Remember, this road is a priority for Mike Braun and a few of his cronies. Once he no longer has political power, the Mid-States Corridor will become just another road built by the lowest bidder allowed to deteriorate because the person in charge has other pet projects to pursue.

Tom Bartelt
Huntingburg