Big turnout for first Mid-States Corridor hearing

mid-state-corridor-loogootee-public-hearing

        Area residents and local government officials filled the Loogootee High School Auditorium last night for the first of three public hearings on the Mid-States Corridor.

            The Project Team explained the concept of an improved highway system from State Road 66 at Rockport north through Dubois County and linking into I-69 at one of three locations. Right now there are 5 proposed routes.  Two would go northwest and hook into I69 at Washington, another would go just about due north and follow 231 meeting I69 at Crane. Another would go north and veer east at Haysville through French Lick then north to Bloomington and yet another would go to Loogootee and then northeast to Bedford and then on to Bloomington. 

            The mayors of Washington and Loogootee were there last night as well as several Daviess County elected officials including Daviess County Councilman Mike Myers

            Daviess County’s new Chamber of Commerce Director was also there.  Joe Morris talked about how Washington’s chances of getting the road are better than most…

            Currently the Project Team is working on a Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement and wants feedback from the public on the routes.  You can give that at two more public hearings, tonight in Bedford and tomorrow night in Jasper.  Both will be at the city’s middle schools at 5:30-pm.  There are also online questionnaires available at 

 midstatescorridor.com

       The plan is to release a Draft Environmental Impact Statement this fall with one preferred route. Project involvement Director David Goffinett told the crowd what will happen from now to then…

           There will be more public hearings in the fall on that Environmental Statement to be released then.  A final…final decision on a route is scheduled for around June of 2021.