I69 On Time

WASHINGTON, IND. (WTHI) -       The nation's biggest highway construction project is running on time for completion later this year.

     For the last couple of years 8 construction companies have been working on I-69 between Evansville and Crane.

     Even the weather has helped keep the project on track.

     Just east of Elnora a crew is putting down the concrete that will be the south bound lane of I-69.

     While the work seems to move slowly, the road is quickly heading to completion, thanks in large part to the drought that hit this area this summer.

     "If they were behind in some areas where they wish they had been this has allowed them to catch up and even work ahead of schedule so it's been a blessing for the construction industry," said Cher Elliot with INDOT.

     State officials say the $600-million, 67 mile stretch of highway is right on schedule.

     The first priority of the road is to make travel more safe, but there is a strong belief that once it opens it will bring a lot of business and jobs to the area.

     " Now by having I-69 connecting Evansville to the rest of the region it is going to open up opportunities for everything along the interstate," said Elliott.

     While the concentration now is on the work on these sections of the highway, the state is already looking down the road where construction is underway on the interstate on into Bloomington, and plans are being made for the project to extend to Martinsville.

     "As we get into 2013 and begin to plan for Section 4 beginning to open at the end of 2014, we will begin looking at these different projects," said Will Wingfield with INDOT, "and I would say we are on schedule to have the draft environmental be the end of this year."

     Something that will eventually connect the work here with Indianapolis and the rest of the world.

     Several communities along the highway corridor are planning Community Day special events on October 20th to celebrate the completion of I-69.