State Still Finalizing Takeover Of I-69 Section 5

An anticipated deadline for the state of Indiana to take control of the I-69 extension from Bloomington to Martinsville has passed without a transition taking place.  But as Indiana Public Broadcasting’s Barbara Brosher reports, officials say the delay won’t impact the project’s August 2018 completion date.

The state reached an agreement last month with private developer I-69 Development Partners and its bondholders to take over construction of Section 5 after ongoing delays and financial problems. The project’s already nearly two years behind schedule.

But Indiana Department of Transportation Strategic Communications Director Scott Manning says the delay in the state assuming control on the project won’t delay construction.

“While we’re waiting for that to be completed, that’s not presenting a challenge or a slowdown to work progressing in the corridor,” Manning says.

INDOT is negotiating new contracts with the three main contractors working on the interstate. Walsh Construction is serving as a consultant to the state until the transition is finalized.

Construction is supposed to be complete by August 2018.

The recently implemented five-year state roads improvement plan does not include any money for the Bloomington to Martinsville I-69 section.