INDOT pulls plug on southeast Indiana highway project
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The Indiana Department of Transportation announced Wednesday that the proposed Link 101 project in southeast Indiana will not move forward. The department cited increased construction costs, low projected travel benefits and public feedback among its reasons for the decision.
Link 101 was originally conceived as a means to improve travel along the State Road 101 corridor between U.S. 50 in Dearborn County and the Markland Dam Bridge at the Ohio River.
INDOT said the response from the public feedback sessions overwhelmingly supported a more moderate approach that led to the decision to forgo the broader project that could have resulted in new road alternatives along the corridor.
“Instead, INDOT will prioritize preservation of local corridor assets, in line with public feedback,” the department said in a news release.
A preliminary alternatives screening report for the Link 101 project found that costs for such an effort would range from $350 million to $450 million, marking a substantial increase from the original $200 million cost estimate in 2021.
Additionally, INDOT said the alternative routes that were identified would provide safety benefits and modest travel time savings, but “projected traffic volumes are relatively low in the area, limiting the total benefit to users.”
The funds that were allocated to the Link 101 project will be reprioritized statewide, INDOT said. The department noted that any information gathered for Link 101 could be considered for future projects.