Residents hear new details from INDOT in I-69 meeting

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Residents who live near the State Road 37 corridor had their first chance to ask questions of INDOT officials since last week’s announcements about the chosen route for the new I-69 expansion.

Hundreds of people went to the public meeting at Perry Meridian High School Monday night to learn about the SR 37 decision and to ask questions about their specific properties.

But many people found that INDOT doesn’t have specific answers at this point in the project.

Chad Laughner owns a business right along State Road 37, but he also has a personal connection to the area.

“My father and my grandfather also live right off 37,” he said.

Several people from his family brought their concerns to the INDOT I-69 information session.

Now that they know SR 37 will become I-69, they want to know how they’ll be personally affected.

Lou Carter lives along a SR 37 access road. He’s concerned about increased traffic and whether or not there will be a convenient on ramp to the nearby interstate.

“I want to know how I’m going to get to work,” he said. “I live on the south side but I work in Indianapolis.”

Their concerns were shared by many people who gave INDOT their input at the meeting.

INDOT reps said they want to hear residents’ concerns.

“We know that with this type of project there will be impacts, and so we want the public to come in and weigh in on exactly how this will affect their community,” INDOT Spokesman LaMar Holliday said.

Right now, INDOT officials admit they don’t have many specific answers for these folks, but they told people there is still time.

Design won’t even be finalized until 2018, and construction will take years after that.

Some people, like Laughner, are looking on the bright side.

“It gives us some time to look and see for new locations and such,” he said.

There is another public meeting for this project Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Martinsville High School.

You can also visit the project website for more details.