WFHB Bloomington Community Radio
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There has been a nearly 48% increase of car accidents on Section 5 of Interstate 69 since construction started in 2014. That’s according to a report today in the Indianapolis Star. Citing data provided by the Indiana Department of Transportation, the newspaper reports there were 354 crashes in 2016, 4 of which were fatal. This is a stark difference from the 240 crashes reported in 2014. Section 5 of the interstate follows the path of State Road 37 from Bloomington to Martinsville. In the newspaper article, a spokesperson for INDOT points out there has been an increase in traffic accidents nationwide, but officials also acknowledged traffic accidents typically increase when there’s construction. The project is nearly two years behind schedule, due largely to a failed public-private partnership. Recently, the State of Indiana decided to take control of the construction project, due to financial trouble at the contractor who has been overseeing the project. The state will be fully in charge by July 31st. The projected date for completing Section 5 is August 31st of next year.
