I-69: The Future is Now

This Thursday, the Chamber of Commerce of Southwestern Indiana will host its annual dinner with John Calipari, UK basketball coach, serving as keynote speaker. He will obviously be the big story, but Interstate 69 will also take center stage with Hoosier Voices for I-69 and 24 chambers of commerce in Kentucky unveiling a new exhibit to promote the long-awaited highway that includes a new Ohio River bridge between the two states.

The cover story in Sunday's Courier-Press highlights I-69 progress in both Indiana and Kentucky and the ongoing effort north of the river to build the new-terrain route while also saving money to extend it as far north as possible with limited funds. It's a well-written story by C-P Indy bureau writer Eric Bradner.

In Kentucky, highway funds are much more limited and I-69 has fierce competition including new Ohio River bridges in Louisville, a new bridge in northern Kentucky and I-66. The chambers of commerce have picked up the torch for the project to keep its importance in front of state lawmakers, state transportation cabinet staffers and Kentucky's D.C. delegation. Bradner's story did not mention Governor Beshear's recent appointment of former highway engineer Ted Merryman as I-69 project manager.

Despite its long, winding journey, I-69 is moving forward. Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels is its biggest fan. Kentucky now has a funding mechanism to help fund and toll a new Ohio River bridge. Governor Beshear grew up in Hopkins County near the corridor and that can't hurt either. Indeed, the future for I-69 is now.