Structural Problems for I-65 Could Have Been Prevented If State Invested in Its Infrastructure

Indiana’s holds a $2.1 billion surplus while roads and bridges crumble, #ButHeySurplus

INDIANAPOLIS – For more than 24 hours, the structural problem for the Interstate-65 Bridge near Lafayette caused headaches for Hoosiers and hurt business for companies who rely on this road for daily travel. With the state’s $2.1 billion surplus, Hoosier common sense would tell you Gov. Mike Pence would use some of that cash to finally invest in the state’s infrastructure. However, only a temporary fix has been made to the bridge, and Pence still has yet to even provide comment on what was a preventable mess.

“Indiana has a $2.1 billion surplus while the state’s roads are crumbling and its bridges are a moment’s notice away from collapse. These problems don’t only cause headaches for drivers, but they have a negative impact on the Hoosier economy,” said Drew Anderson, communications director for the Indiana Democratic Party. “Hoosiers want a governor who will prioritize the problems of today, like fixing the state’s infrastructure, so hardworking families can have a better future. But Governor Mike Pence is so laser focused on his own ideological agenda that he continues to neglect the overall well-being of the Hoosier State. But hey, surplus!”

I-65 isn’t the only example highlighting Indiana’s “D+” rating for infrastructure. Just last week, Indiana State Road 156 saw a portion of its road slide very close to the Ohio River, forcing INDOT to close the road in both directions and set up a 10-mile detour around the damaged road. Belterra Casino, located in Switzerland County, saw an immediate impact on its business.

Also, Washingtonians in Daviess County let Governor Pence have it when he visited their community earlier this summer. While shaking hands with Hoosiers, Pence received “a pile of complaints” about the condition of State Road 257, a road residents often use to get from Washington to Jasper.

With 21.5% of the state’s bridges classified as deficient, why isn’t Governor Mike Pence using the existing $2.1 billion state surplus to invest in fixing Indiana’s crumbling infrastructure? But like with the rest of Indiana’s overall well-being, Pence would rather focus on his ideology and his agenda ahead of improving the lives of the everyday Hoosier family.