I-69 future tied to new road projects - 13 WTHR Indianapolis

Kevin Rader/Eyewitness News

Indianapolis - At the Statehouse Thursday, lawmakers focused on Indianapolis' outer beltway and another toll road, the Illiana Expressway. However, the future of I-69 may be at stake as well.

It is clear that more than one lawmaker believes the road to economic prosperity in this state is through transportation and infrastructure. One year ago, Major Moves, a public-private partnership to lease the Indiana Toll Road, started the trend. Now the Senate is grappling with another public private partnership to build the Illiana Expressway in the northwestern part of the state and the Indiana Commerce Connector in central Indiana.

"The reality is in today's world with the amount of money that there is no major interstate transportation type efforts can be made without public private partnerships," said Sen. Tom Wyss (R-Fort Wayne).

In proposing the idea, Governor Mitch Daniels wanted to take the money from these two projects and use it to complete a toll-free I-69. That certainly helps garner political support from representatives all across the state.

"The connector is the basis for completion of I-69. Without the connector and being a toll connector, I believe the continuation of I-69 from Evansville is impossible. There is just not going to be the funds available for that unless there are some dramatic tax increases that we want to do to gasoline for that section. It can't be done," said Wyss.

President Pro Tem David Long understands questions need to be answered and the process monitored but for now his top priority is authorization.

"If you can be creative about how to allow input and participation by elected leaders and the public perhaps you can achieve some of the same things we are hoping for with a review of the legislature," Long said.

But first things first: Senate Bill One still has to be voted out of committee. That vote should take place next week and Sen Wyss says he believes he has the votes to get the bill out of committee.

Commerce Connector