Staff photo by Stewart Moon
Interstate 69 construction is snaking its way through Monroe County, but many still wonder who will — and more importantly who should — end up paying for the ripple effect the highway construction will have on Bloomington and Monroe County streets.
The Bloomington-Monroe County Metropolitan Planning Organization considered amendments to its Transportation Improvement Program Friday, ensuring those projects have funding as a 2040 transportation plan is still being completed.
Of the 28 amendments proposed, board member Richard Martin, who also serves on the county’s plan commission, raised issues with two: the reconstruction of 17th Street and additional money for Section 5 of I-69.
Martin’s reasoning? To get the attention of the Indiana Department of Transportation, which Martin said should be paying for the projects.
Though the majority of the board agreed with Martin, voting 5-4 not to put the projects into the plan, Bloomington Mayor Mark Kruzan tried to caution members.
“We’re jeopardizing those projects to make a point,” he said. “We’re trying to relive the history of I-69.”
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