WYRZ.org 98.9 WYRZ – The Voice of Hendricks County
INDIANAPOLIS (April 4, 2016) – Public meetings tonight, April 4, at Perry Meridian High School and Tuesday, April 5, at Martinsville High School will collect additional public input on routing the future Interstate 69 between Martinsville and Indianapolis.
Doors will open for both meetings at 6 p.m. with an open-house session in the school gymnasium. Each open house will be followed with a formal presentation and public-comment session in the school auditorium at 7 p.m.
Perry Meridian High School is located at 401 W. Meridian School Rd. in Indianapolis and Martinsville High School is located at 1360 E. Gray St. in Martinsville.
Additional information presented
Last week, the Indiana Department of Transportation joined local mayors and economic-development executives to support the I-69 route that generally follows the existing State Road 37 between Martinsville and Indianapolis.
After detailed analysis and careful consideration of public input, the project team recommends that the State Road 37 alternative best meets the I-69 performance measures while minimizing cost and impacts to the human and natural environment. Open-house displays and the formal presentation will show the data used to support INDOT’s recommendation.
In addition, this week’s meetings will present three options for potential locations of new highway lanes, exits, overpasses and access roads along the existing State Road 37. I-69 project team members are seeking public input to find the best combination of the options being presented.
Land purchase questions
Required environmental studies start by anticipating the maximum possible land purchases and continue to refine the footprint and minimize impacts. INDOT is working as quickly as possible to complete the required impact study, which will help answer property-owner questions about land purchases.
Right now land purchases and construction are not funded for I-69 between Martinsville and Indianapolis. The project team anticipates a federal decision will be issued in 2018 that will allow the state to use federal funds for land purchases.
Once highway design begins, the project has many tools to minimize impacts to homes, businesses and the environment. These tools include retaining walls, shifting I-69 lanes to the east or west, taking the interstate above or below local roads and using different ramp locations.
Once funding is secured and enough project design is completed, INDOT plans “kitchen-table meetings” with property owners at their house, INDOT’s project office or a neutral site. The meetings will explain the land-purchasing process and timeline, and will assign each property owner to an INDOT representative they can contact.
In many cases, only a portion of a property will be needed for I-69. If the project needs to relocate a home or business, the owners have the option of finding a suitable replacement themselves or INDOT can assist them through every step of the way.
Written comments, special accommodations
The public is invited to review the Reasonable Alternatives Screening Report at http://www.in.gov/indot/projects/i69/2343.htm and submit public input.
Comments may be submitted at any time using a web form at www.in.gov/indot/projects/i69/2463.htm or by contacting the I-69 Section 6 Project Office directly at section6pm@indot.in.gov or 317-881-6408. The I-69 Section 6 project team is requesting comments for this phase of the project by April 29, 2016.
The public may also visit the I-69 Section 6 project office located at 7847 Waverly Road, Martinsville, IN 46151. The office is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and is closed on state holidays.
With advance notice, special accommodations will be made for individuals needing auxiliary aids or services of interpreters, signers, readers, or large print. Anyone with such needs should contact Rickie Clark with INDOT’s Office of Public Involvement at 317-232-6601 or rclark@indot.in.gov.
