They call it progress!!

[lynne b]

We have a major highway coming our way, it's called The Hoosier Heartland Corridor, it will be a 4 lane express highway, there are segments of it started at several different points from town to town and then there are parts of it that are already open and being used, not sure just how long it will be when finished which won't be for several years yet. Well they are starting the segement right in front of my house which will be an on/off ramp just a little farther down the road from me, they started cutting the trees down, only took them less than 30 min to cut down a batch of them, they still have some to cut, which i will not miss in the least, they are "catalpa tree's, they are very dirty tree's with long beans in the fall and worms in the summer, people travel up and down the road for the worms to fish with. Any ways they are messy trees and it all falls in our yard.
There is a house and cow pasture right across the road from us, no one has lived in the house for the past 15 yrs or so but the cows are left there, the man that owns the house and cows lives in another town close by, he owns more land and has more money than probably he knows of, but he lives like a bum. The state has made him an offer on his land and he has refused to sell it, he's trying to fight it in the court system, but we all know how that will go, he has till a certain date to remove his cows and then they will just take it over I understand how he feels, there was another couple close by that the state bought their 100 some year old farm house that had been handed down to family, as i am sure there are 100's of other families that had to up root and move to make way for this progress, it's sad but you can't beat the system when the state is invovled. With that being said, i kind of wish they would have made us an offer on our house, my hubby lived here with his ex (not in this house, we put a new one in) and alot of his ex relatives live very close, in fact his ex lives right behind us,(don't ask LOL), i don't have alot of attachment to this area and would love to start over some place brand new to both of us.
So it will be a long hot,dusty summer of dump trucks and other equipment, i drove through it all last summer on another segement they were working on and some days it was like a white out, there was so much dust blowing that you could see it for a couple miles away.
I may be wrong on this but i think this highway will connect from Fort Wayne Indiana to Lafayett Indiana which is probably a few hundred miles.
So they call this progress!!!

[Janet]

Sorry it's going to be such an inconvenience and for so long. It not only is inconvenient, but dangerous at times.

You don't think Keith would be interested in moving? The way you worded it here sounded great..lol. Maybe you can talk him into it.

You know I'd give just about anything to move.......alone... ;)

[DianaB]

I'm sure the highway will be really nice when it's finished.......but I'm not sure I'd want a highway in my front yard!!! I know what you mean about the state taking property from people when they put in a new highway. We had a new highway put in a few years ago and I knew some people that had to move because of it and the state can get it even if you don't want to sell. As for the dust.....I guess you'll just have to keep your windows closed and a dust rag handy!!!

[JJJ]

I wish they bought my house :p

I really don't know if that would be good for you or not :confused: but I do feel terrible for those who have sentimental attachment to their houses :(

[lynne b]

these pic's are just up the road from me, all trees gone in a matter of 2 days.

[lynne b]

the cow pasture is staying, it is right outside my door across the road, we thought they were going to come all the way up to here, but will be nice to have the trees for shade. The highway will run right behind the house across the field from us. There are several places like this for miles and miles where bridges and on/off ramps have been built waiting for the final phase of the highway to connect them. It is suppose to be done by 2013.

[judy]

So, the older man who owns the cow pasture doesn't have to move his cows? How sad for the people whose homes have been taken by the state! Does the state pay them fair market value at least?

It is too bad that they didn't buy your house, what with all the ex's around!!!:(

[lynne b]

So, the older man who owns the cow pasture doesn't have to move his cows? How sad for the people whose homes have been taken by the state! Does the state pay them fair market value at least?

It is too bad that they didn't buy your house, what with all the ex's around!!!:(

Right Judy,out of about 40 acers just in this area he got to keep about 14 acers and he doesn't have to move his cows, but because of the direction that the highway is going many people have lost their homes. The state does offer what the house/property is appraised at and not a penny more.
I am ok so far with the ex's being here, havn't given me any reason to want to move.

I am looking forward to the highway getting done, the highway i use now to go to/from work is getting very crowded what with the construction trucks and semis going to/from the place they get/take their grain and right next to that is an ethonal plant and they havn't even started to harvest their fields yet. Then there is Purdue University, when school starts again it will be busy with collage kids coming and going and whenever there is a home football/basketball game it is so bad but those are usually on a Sunday. All this traffic on a 2 lane highway gets a little scary some nights coming home.

[gja1000]

I certainly can understand why people would be upset losing their homes. That doesn't seem right, yet roads have to be built. I can just imagine how busy your road is, and you are right, a two lane road not enough to carry all the extra traffic. We have a major university here in Austin too and when there are football and basketball games the traffic is horrible.

[DianaB]

We had Highway 400 built through here a few years ago and I knew some of the people who had to sell their home and move. They were not happy about the prices they were getting but in some cases had no choice but to accept it. The highway is wonderful though but I sure felt sorry for those who had to move. Of course, there were some people who tried to get way more than their home was worth too.

Linda, I know that you'll appreciate the highway after it's done.

[Marilyn]

Is that the I69 corridor? I know they were building it somewhere in Indiana. If it is, it will eventually extend all the way to Mexico. There is some controversy about the route here in Texas. It may go down the current US59 to Laredo, or down 59 to Victoria and divert down US77 to Brownsville, or down 59 past Victoria and divert to yet another highway (I forget the number) to the valley.

I69 was one of Rick Perry's things. He was behind the whole I69/Trans Texas Corridor. The corridor got dropped, thankfully, but the I69 part is still supposed to happen eventually.

Rick Perry made a lot of people down here very angry when he was trying to force the TTC. A lot of people would have lost a lot of land. It was two interstates running parallel one for trucks and one for cars plus two rail lines, one for freight and one for passengers. The land along the corridor would belong to the state and be leased to hotels and other commercial enterprises. The TTC would have been a toll road managed by a company from Spain. Not too many proud native Texans went for this deal and it finally died. I owned land that would have been taken by the TTC, so I attended some of the meetings. What a mess it was!!!

And the guy is running for President. I heard today on the radio that he will announce his candidacy on Saturday. He was asked by a reporter recently why he wasn't so popular in his home state, and he quoted the scripture about Christ's rejection by the people he grew up with that a prophet is not accepted in his own land. The rest of the country wasn't involved in the whole TTC thing here at home, so he may have a chance.

[lynne b]

Marilyn, Looks like it could be the same thing you are talking about. I found this information about it. I'm not so sure about this guy running for president though lol


PROJECT LOCATION

The proposed SR 25 project is part of the Hoosier Heartland Highway Corridor, which extends from Toledo, Ohio to Lafayette, Indiana, a distance of approximately 200 miles. The Indiana sections of the corridor are in various stages of improvement. The section from Fort Wayne to Lafayette is about 99 miles long. Once completed, the Hoosier Heartland Highway Corridor will connect I-69 in Fort Wayne to I-65 in Lafayette.

The corridor segment containing the proposed project is located in Tippecanoe, Carroll, and Cass Counties, Indiana. The project begins east of the SR 25 and Interstate 65 (I-65) interchange in Lafayette, and heads northeast to US 24, at Logansport, a distance of about 35.3 miles. The western terminus provides a direct connection to I-65, the major north-south interstate in Indiana. The eastern terminus in Logansport would connect to the recently improved US 24 section of the Hoosier Heartland Highway Corridor. This section of SR 25 is being advanced as an independent project because it is the major commercial corridor linking Logansport, Delphi, and Lafayette. As a major farming area, farmers depend on this corridor to move farm supplies and products to their markets in Logansport and Lafayette

[Marilyn]

Sounds like your corridor isn't I69, but connects I69 with another interstate highway. I'm all for progress as long as they don't take more land than is needed and as long as it belongs to "We the People" and not some foreign enterprise!!

We need to restrict foreign ownership of our lands and resources like some other countries do. Some would say that's not the American way, but we're out sourcing enough and need to preserve what we have here for our children and grandchildren. That's my opinion for what it's worth.

[DianaB]

Sounds like your corridor isn't I69, but connects I69 with another interstate highway. I'm all for progress as long as they don't take more land than is needed and as long as it belongs to "We the People" and not some foreign enterprise!!

We need to restrict foreign ownership of our lands and resources like some other countries do. Some would say that's not the American way, but we're out sourcing enough and need to preserve what we have here for our children and grandchildren. That's my opinion for what it's worth.

I agree with you, Marilyn!!

[judy]

Rick Perry is using the bible to further his own political interests. This makes me so angry! There are many good people who believe in him when he quotes scripture, not knowing that his agenda may not be what they really want at all.

He's not the only one either. Too many politicians are doing this lately. I certainly can see someone promoting their deep faith, but not to the point that it is a large part of their political campaign.

Politicians are so phony that it is no wonder that they are the subject of such controversy lately. Comedians are having a field day with them, and I laugh also, but I remember when these were people who were respected. Not anymore!

[lynne b]

Been a hot dusty summer, for about 3 weeks we had dump trucks coming and going moving dirt. They have stopped work here for a while now but they will be back to lay black top. These pics were taken back in May, they do have a section of the highway open now and i have to admit it will be nice when they get the rest of it open

[lynne b]

This is what it looks like right now. You can't see it but in the last pic there is an over pass already done, just waiting on black top to get to it.

[Lindsey]

Thanks for the pictures Lynne :) I am probably the only person here who is nerdy about these things but road construction excites me lol!!! I design roads for a living so it's always interesting to see how roads are built everywhere else :)

[DianaB]

I had forgotten that they were building a new road in front of your house. I bet you are sooo tired of all the work and dust!! You'll be doing the happy dance when they get it finished, I bet!!!

[2tiredmom]

From what I understand, I live North of ft wayne, that the I 69 project is from indy south to evansville. They have changed our exit signs. Our exit was 150 they have changed the sign to exit 350 instead now. I did not realize they were doing anything from Lafayette to Ft Wayne. That would make it nice for some.. I know Kokomo is
getting a bypass with 31. To much going on to keep up with it all. ;)

[DianaB]

Sounds like a lot of work going on!!

[lynne b]

Thanks for the pictures Lynne :) I am probably the only person here who is nerdy about these things but road construction excites me lol!!! I design roads for a living so it's always interesting to see how roads are built everywhere else :)

It has been neat to watch how it is developing into a highway, building all the over pass's and there are several different companies doing different segments of it so it will be interesting to see how all of them will connect together in the finale stages of it. There is a very short section already done that we are driving on now and it is very nice, so anxious to have more of it done.
Just sad that so many had to lose their homes for it.

[lynne b]

From what I understand, I live North of ft wayne, that the I 69 project is from indy south to evansville. They have changed our exit signs. Our exit was 150 they have changed the sign to exit 350 instead now. I did not realize they were doing anything from Lafayette to Ft Wayne. That would make it nice for some.. I know Kokomo is
getting a bypass with 31. To much going on to keep up with it all. ;)

This highway is already open from Logansport to Ft Wayne, we take that when we go to Mi. then from Logansport to Lafayette is what they are working on now, it will replace the old 25 from Logan to Lafayette. I drive 25 to and from work from almost to Delphi to Logansport.
I have been to Kokomo and know where you are talking about the bypass there also.

I will be glad when they are done with construction cause the Perdue traffic is terrible.

[DianaB]

I know what you mean about people losing their homes. We had a new highway put in a few years ago and Tammy's parents (my DIL) were forced to sell their home. Like you said......progress.

[lynne b]

Here is a update of the progress that has been made on this highway. The first 2 pic's are before and after (work still in progress) access to the new highway, just down the road from my house. I will add more pic's in the next post.

[lynne b]

these are before and after of about the same area. One side has been open for about a year, but it has been only 2 lane with traffic going both ways, it is now 3 lanes in spots where they are putting finale layer on the side we have been driving on for the last year. They opened it before it was done so they could get the other side done. The dirt side we were walking on, the finished side I am on a part of the old highway that they left which is really nice cause no traffic is aloud on it but it is a good place to walk the dogs, it is much higher than the new highway.

[lynne b]

just some pic's. The one with the trees is the old highway that they left. The red thing is my new ride I got just a couple of weeks ago.

[Lindsey]

It looks really nice Lynne!

And I love your new ride!

[Blueyes]

Very cool ride!! What is it? It was nice of them the build you a new road just for your new car;)