Indiana’s motto “The Crossroads of America” has an interesting past with a tie directly to our community. As you could easily guess, the meaning behind the slogan comes from the fact that Indiana is a connector for many interstate highways crossing the country. I-70 runs from Utah to Pennsylvania, I-65 runs from northern Michigan to southern Alabama and many others connect through Indianapolis and the I-465 interchanges. When the slogan was adopted in the 1930s, railroad systems were also a main mode of transportation, and some of the finest railways in the country ran right through Indiana. In 1937, a columnist from what was then known as the Evansville Courier – you know it as the Evansville Courier & Press – asked readers to send in their suggestions for our state motto. He received more than 300 suggestions which he then sent to the Statehouse. A committee of members from the House and Senate chose “The Crossroads of America” and on March 2, 1937 a House joint resolution adopted it as our state’s official slogan. Indiana has made a valiant effort over the years to uphold that maxim by keeping our transportation infrastructure up-to-date and well maintained. The I-69 Evansville to Indianapolis project is one piece of the nationwide puzzle. Designated as one of six Corridors of the Future, I-69 will ultimately extend from Mexico to Canada, making it the primary north-south channel for the movement of goods and services in the U.S. According to the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT), nearly 21 miles of the existing I-164 in Vanderburgh and Warrick counties will be renamed I-69. The new signage should be installed over the course of a few months in the fall of 2014. The new I-69 connecting Evansville and Indianapolis is a key component to the future economic vitality of southwest Indiana. Our community now has improved access to jobs, education and health care along with a faster, safer commute for those who frequently travel to Indianapolis. Sixty-seven new miles opened for business in November 2012, under budget and ahead of schedule. To learn more about the I-69 Evansville to Indianapolis project, please visit www.i69indyevn.org. I’m thankful for all the hard work INDOT has done to make traveling and commuting more convenient for our community and the entire state. Keeping our reputation as the “Crossroads of America” is not an easy task, but I have no doubts that we will continue to show the rest of the country that this is just one of the reasons Indiana is the best place in the Midwest to live, work and raise a family. -30-
Rep. Suzanne Crouch (R-Evansville) represents portions of Vanderburgh and Warrick counties.
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