News & Media

CARR Marks 20th Year Of Fighting I-69 Plan
11/2/2009

BLOOMINGTON HERALD TIMES - Michael Malik

For nearly 20 years, members of Citizens for Appropriate Rural Roads have fought a constant push from state highway officials to build Interstate 69 along its planned route. And now, even though construction crews having already begun a section of I-69 in near Evansville, CARR members say they feel they have the advantage. Last week, about 25 people gathered at the Monroe County Public Library for a celebration to help CARR kick off its 20th year of opposing the I-69 project. The organization has at least 800 members statewide. Other organizations, particularly those with business ties, have supported construction of I-69 through southwestern Indiana, based on benefits they believe it will bring to the economy both locally and statewide. Tokarski's confidence over the cost projections is based on these numbers: The original cost of building the extension, which is supposed to run 142 miles between Evansville and Indianapolis, was set at $1.3 billion. Cost estimates have since gone up to $3.1 billion.