Governor Pence breaks ground on I-69 improvements
HAMILTON COUNTY, Ind. (WISH) – Road improvements are coming to Hamilton County.
The governor kicked off a project Wednesday that is designed to reduce traffic problems on I-69.
If you’ve ever tried to go north from Indianapolis on I-69 during the evening rush hour you know that there is a need for more lanes on that highway. They are now on the way.
The governor conducted a mock groundbreaking indoors because of the weather. It’s the kickoff of a $92 million project to add a third lane in both directions from State Road 37 to State road 38. It’s a 15 mile stretch.
“For anybody that has been stuck in traffic on I-69 for the last 10 or 15 years,” said Sen. Jim Merritt (R-Indianapolis) “the sun is rising.”
The project also calls for the creation of a wider overpass and a diverging diamond at exit 210 next to Hamilton Town Center.
Plans call for the work to be done by the fall of 2017.
“It’s going to contribute to the ease with which people move through this area,” said Governor Mike Pence, “to commerce in this area, and I believe it’s going to create even more commerce in the days ahead in this corridor and all across the state of Indiana.”
This project is a part of what the governor calls Major Moves 2020, a program he began in his first year in office.
The next project will be to add lanes to I-65 in northern Indiana. It is scheduled to begin in December.