Indiana highway construction back on track after uncertainty

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) - The construction of Interstate 69 from Bloomington to Martinsville appears to be on track after weeks of uncertainty.

The deadline when I-69 Development Partners LLC could've moved to end its contract with Isolux Corsan passed Oct. 3, the Evansville Courier & Press (http://bit.ly/2dLI9c1 ) reported.

Isolux Corsan submitted new plans to the I-69 Development group showing the construction can be completed on the 22-mile stretch of road, called Section 5, by October 2017 in order for Isolux Corsan to stay on as lead contractor.

"We're cautiously optimistic at this point," Mary Catherine Carmichael, communications director for the city of Bloomington, said.

In September, the Indiana Finance Authority threatened I-69 Development with a breach of contract, and subcontractors walked off the job after not getting paid. Isolux Corsan officials said a lack of permitting had slowed them down and interrupted payment.

A Marion County judge stepped in and allowed I-69 Development to access a $24 million line of credit from Isolux Corsan to pay the workers.

"We're ready for it to be done," Carmichael said.

The Indiana Department of Transportation has already chosen Indiana 37 for Section 6. However, a construction time frame or cost for the project has not been released.

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Information from: Evansville Courier & Press, http://www.courierpress.com