HUNTINGBURG — Dubois Strong is committing money to the push to secure an interstate-quality road that would connect Dubois County with I-69.
The county’s economic development group announced today it is committing $10,000 over a two-year period to the Midstate Corridor project, formerly called the Interstate 67 project.
The Midstate Corridor would connect Dubois County directly to Owensboro and link to the west with I-69, which, when completed, will stretch from Michigan to Texas.
Specifically, the corridor would use the improved U.S. 231 and then connect to I-69 through the Midstate Corridor. The under-construction I-69 link between Evansville and Indianapolis pauses in the Bloomington area at the moment.
Hank Menke, president and CEO of OFS Brands Inc. in Huntingburg and leader of the Midstate Corridor group, said the funding will support the group’s efforts for the next two years. It will be used for engineering work and studying possible ways — such as a tax, tolls or local government involvement — to pay for the project.
“The Midstate Corridor could benefit Dubois County in a big way,” Menke said. “Studies show that communities within 10 miles of an interstate are more likely to bring in jobs than those that are not.”
The Midstate Corridor/I-67 project arose 2012. It has been estimated the road would decrease travel time for Dubois County residents traveling to Indianapolis by about 45 minutes. A study completed by Massachusetts-based Cambridge Systematics in 2012 determined an interstate would decrease accidents along the two-lane U.S. 231 by up to 2 percent, which equates to as many as 500 fewer accidents and 300 fewer significant injuries annually.
After the publication of the Cambridge study, the Midstate Corridor group had findings that indicated the corridor would greatly impact the local economy as well as address safety issues on U.S. 231.
The money Dubois Strong is committing will be used for pre-engineering work and design and to bring in experts to determine how the road can be funded.
“This project would create so many possibilities,” said Ed Cole, president of Dubois Strong, “An interstate-quality northern route that enabled a direct connection to I-69 would be a logistics economic game changer for Dubois County, southern Indiana and areas of Northern Kentucky.
“The decision to support this venture stems from the potential to foster greater economic growth and strengthen the county’s competitive position, summarizing the entire mission of our organization’s strategic plan.”
Dubois Strong is a public-private partnership devoted to fostering economic growth to drive retention and expansion of existing local business while attracting new employers and supporting entrepreneurs, thereby strengthening the county’s competitive position and generating prosperity for all residents.
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