Bloomington for I-69
FACT: A two lane rural road is EIGHT TIMES more likely to produce a fatality than an interstate highway.
Evans, L. A crash course in traffic safety. 1997 Medical and Health Annual. Chicago: Encyclopedia Britannica.
Clearing the way for interstate 69 has begun!
"I'm thrilled with the news. It's about doggone time"
-- Jeff Korb, Vanderburgh County Commissioners President
The land clearing has begun. Groundbreaking could be as early as this fall. Bids are now open for the first contruction jobs. Improvement of I-69 near Indianapolis is also being bid. It's finally coming together. Like it or not, we're on our way to reducing fatalities and accidents, decreasing travel time, and giving the economy a boost. Connecting Bloomington, Crane, and a ton of other places along the corridor with interstate highway access will surely be a huge boost at minimum.
- Clearing way for interstate leg (Courier-Press - March 13, 2008)
- I-69 bids opened (Courier-Press - April 2, 2008)
- I-69 to get wider faster (IndyStar - March 21, 2008)
SAVE THE ENVIRONMENT!!! LOWER TAXES!! BUILD I-69 NOW!!!!
We already know that building I-69 will save the environment by cutting down on disposing of wrecked cars, reducing the number of law enforcement responses to accidents, reducing fatalities, and reducing travel time
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Source: WTHR-TV
Source: Indianapolis Star |
Now protestors of the direct I-69 direct route are adding to the problem by defacing the statehouse, creating even more environmental concerns and causing $1000 of YOUR tax dollars to be spent on cleanup. On June 4, opponents of I-69 direct HIRED protestors to deface the statehouse and unruly demonstrate against the highway. (Source: WTHR-TV story) Protestors had to be arrested, because they would not peacefully demonstrate their employer's cause. What does this say about these particular opponents of I-69? They won't even protest themselves, and hire people to deface public property. I certainly don't want my tax dollars being wasted on things where there is ZERO public benefit. Even if you don't agree with building I-69 for various reasons, you have to admit there will be at least SOME public benefit to the road. Obviously people disagree about the cost of this road both financially and environmentally. But, I think we can all agree that the cost of defacing property, especially public property, does not result in public benefit. As First Sergeant David Bursten with Indiana State Police explains, "It's fine to protest and in a free society, people are encouraged to exercise the rights, but rights have responsibilities and these folks crossed the line." First Sgt. Bursten says, "People that really don't have an interest in Interstate 69 have been recruited to come here and be involved in a protest because they lack direction in their lives as to what they can do constructively. There are constructive ways to protest. This is not one of them." (Source: WISH-TV) For additional information about destroying the environment in the name of anti-I-69, consult the following links: |
Bloomington Indiana needs I-69! If only one life is saved by putting an interstate near Bloomington, isn't it worth the cost? And, it is projected that thousands of lives will be saved. Bloomington has only one safe road going in or out of town... SR-37 to Indianapolis. If you go in any other direction, get ready for a scary adventure on a winding road. 40,000 students at Indiana University travel back and forth from all over the state on these unlit, two lane, curvy roads that are endangering their lives, not to mention faculty and staff, businesses and contractors for the University as well as numerous other businesses in Bloomington, Crane Naval Surface Warfare center, and the biotechnology initiative.
The US-41/I-70 route does not provide interstate access to Bloomington, Crane, and Indiana University where currently there is none. Terre Haute already has interstate access. US-41 provides safe access to I-64 in southwestern Indiana. To many, this is more important than connecting Evansville with Indianapolis!
And as an added bonus... we may get more jobs too. But that's just a bonus. People keep their lives, that's the important thing.
After we get I-69, then we can work on creating I-565 to connect I-69 in Bloomington with I-65 in Columbus.
Bloomington for I-69 also supports fixing and enhancing our current roads, and building more roads and rails in Bloomington. Most trips in Bloomington at a distance of 5 miles take at least 30 minutes. Traffic is consistently backed up for miles at all major intersections. We must concentrate our efforts in the planning stages of this project to make sure Bloomington has the needed onramps, offramps, and overpasses keep our current roads running and future ones ready to build.
For more information, see these links:
- www.i-69forindiana.com
- IU Students for I-69
- I-69 (Nationwide)
- INDOT I-69 Section 5 web site, local office
Quotes:
Mitch Daniels, Governor of Indiana:
- "I want to start construction as soon as possible, and I don't want to wait 12-14 years to finish," Daniels said. "With some 21st century thinking, not only can we avoid yet another disappointment, we can accelerate completion."
- "Anyone not
acknowledging the need to search for improvements is not being honest
with the people of southwest Indiana"
Source: https://www.mymanmitch.com/media_press/November25.html
- "Although
interactive effects unquestionably occur and are substantial, the differences
between fatality rates on different types of roads are so great that
it is beyond reasonable doubt that replacing, say, a well-travelled
rural two-lane road with a limited access freeway will reduce traffic
deaths and injuries."
Source: http://www.scienceservingsociety.com/tsd/CH04.htm or in print in his 2004 book entitled "Traffic Safety".
Statistics:
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Traffic Deaths and Personal Injury Accidents
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This page is solely the (peaceful) expression of an opinion about I-69 that is shared by a majority of people in Indiana and in particular the Monroe County area. We respectfully respect your right to have your opinion, but we hope that by taking a look at these facts you can make a more informed decision. This page has no ties to any formalized group on either side, nor any news agency. News sources are merely referenced for credibility and to avoid plagarism.