Despite Indiana having one of the wettest summers in its history, state transportation officials still believe the Crane to Bloomington section of I-69 will be completed by the end of the year. INDOT had originally scheduled to have the road open last year, but moved the date back because of weather and construction delays on the 27-mile section.
"Despite the rain, we are still on for the end of the year," said INDOT spokesman Will Wingfield.
Crews are working on the embankments along the roadway and once that is complete, are expected to begin pouring concrete on the road all the way to Bloomington. Once that is finished, construction crews are expected to return next spring to finish up erosion control and other projects.
The first half of the I-69 project was completed ahead of schedule and brought the interstate through Washington. Local leaders believe that getting the section finished from Crane to Bloomington will be very important for getting development moving.
"Getting that section open will be huge," said Ron Arnold, with the Daviess County Economic Development Corporation. "That will allow us to promote an open and functional four-lane from Indianapolis to Evansville. We feel like access to Indiana 37 will give us access to Indianapolis."
Because of the way industrial prospects look at expansion, the opening of the Crane to Bloomington section might be even more important in terms of developing and expanding the hospitality business in Daviess County.
"That will most definitely have an impact," said Washington Mayor Joe Wellman. "Any time I speak with a hotel or restaurant they want to know what the traffic counts are. Getting that section open and getting more traffic will help attract those."
"I have heard rumors and heard people talk about what they would like to see happen," said Samantha Bobbitt, executive director of the Daviess County Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau. "I am pretty convinced that the interstate will be bringing more development here in the future."
Bobbitt believes Washington is not only in a good place geographically (about halfway between Indianapolis and Evansville), but also in a good spot in terms of growth. "Our shopping areas are mostly full now," she said. "We are primed for growth. We have a lot going for us and we have to leverage our position once the road opens."
The state, under then Governor Mitch Daniels, fast-tracked the I-69 construction to Crane. The move sent many communities, including Washington, scrambling to put utilities and infrastructure in place to try and lure business and jobs to the area. The one-year delay on the Crane to Bloomington section has allowed the city to take some extra time to prepare.
"It has given us some time to get some things done," said Wellman. "We've already expanded the electric and water there, and we are working on getting sewer lines south of U.S. 50 and north of the CSX tracks. We feel like we are in great shape and are ready for whatever may come our way along I-69."
"I feel that the delay gave people some time to focus," added Bobbitt. "It let the property owners take some time to develop a vision and not just jump into the first thing that came along."
Getting the full access to four-lane traffic is one step local leaders do not want the state to abandon. "Nobody will make an investment until we are connected," said Bobbitt. "If the road gets completed all the way to Indianapolis, it will be a big strength, not just for this area, but the entire state. We need to keep moving. The project cannot stop if we hope to see development."
INDOT officials say SR 37 from Bloomington to Martinsville is expected to upgraded to interstate standards by the end of 2016. The final leg between Martinsville and Indianapolis is still some distance from construction. The route and the funding for the final section still have not been determined.
"We need to see the state finish this through," said Bobbitt. "It should not become a problem just because there was a change in administration."
"There are two important things for fully realizing the potential for I-69, and one of those is to get the north end open," said Wellman. "The other is for a bridge to be built that will carry the traffic into Kentucky and their parkways that are being upgraded to interstates."
The next step in the development of I-69 will be one more opportunity for Washington. "I have always heard that a road into town can also be a road out of town," said Bobbitt. "I am anxious to see how we change Daviess County for the positive with this road."
The Associated Press contributed to this story.