Pence backs release of $200M for Indiana highway projects

Indiana Gov. Mike Pence says he supports the release of $200 million for highway projects around Indiana ahead of the presentation of his proposal for a new state budget later this week.

Pence said the State Budget Committee will be asked Thursday to approve the road-spending money that was included in the current state budget.

Pence said Tuesday that additional road funding will be part of his budget proposal that will be given to legislators on Thursday, but he didn't give any specifics.

Many city and county government leaders around the state have been pushing for additional money to pay for what they say are needed local road and bridge projects.

Pence said his state budget proposal will be thrifty and focused on education needs.

In a press release issued Tuesday, the Pence administration said two highway contracts have been awarded with the initial funding and construction to begin later this year:

– Interstate 65 from Main Street in Greenwood to Southport Road in Indianapolis; and

– I-65 in the Lafayette area from State Road 38 to State Road 25.

The state will seek design-build contracts next year to expand three heavily-traveled sections of four-lane interstates:

– I-65 from State Road 44 near Franklin to Main Street in Greenwood;

– I-65 from Sellersburg (Exit 9) to Memphis (Exit 16) in Clark County; and

– I-69 from State Road 37 in Fishers to Southeastern/Campus Parkway (Exit 210) in Hamilton County.