Published: November 13, 2009 09:28 am      

Ind. agency, Bloomington squaring off over I-69

BLOOMINGTON — The state highway department might withhold tens of millions of dollars for projects around Bloomington as the agency is pushing local officials to adopt plans for the Interstate 69 extension through southwestern Indiana.

Bloomington and Monroe County officials have declined to include aspects of the I-69 project in their transportation improvement plan.

A deputy commissioner of the Indiana Department of Transportation says the state and local plans must match for federal money to be spent in an area. Samuel Sarvis tells The Herald-Times he didn’t believe the agency would spend any construction money in Monroe County until the two plans are in line.

Among planned projects in the area is the widening of the Indiana 45-46 bypass around Indiana University’s campus.