I-69 Section 6: Will the $1.5 Billion Roadway Impact Your Property?

Construction of Interstate 69 in Indiana seems never-ending. New sections of the interstate have already been completed from Evansville, Indiana to Martinsville, Indiana. Section 6 of the project is just beginning, and it will extend from Martinsville to Interstate 465 in Indianapolis. That’s about 26 miles of new interstate. What’s the cost? About $1.5 billion! That’s a lot of money.

With $1.5 billion at stake, people can expect to see a lot of changes to the roadway connecting Martinsville to Indianapolis. Those changes include the taking of home and business owners’ property by eminent domain to complete the project. All or part of an owner’s property may be impacted. If it is, those impacted landowners are entitled to receive “just compensation” for whatever property is taken. I previously drafted an article explaining what “just compensation” means.

If you are worried about whether your property may be taken as part of I-69 Section 6 construction, the Indiana Department of Transportation has provided Section 6 maps detailing the path of the roadway construction. If your property is impacted, you may have received (or will be receiving) communications from the State of Indiana. One of those communications may include an offer letter to take your property. If you receive(d) an offer letter, we strongly encourage you to contact an attorney experienced with eminent domain actions to inform you of your rights. Odds are, you may be entitled to much more than the offer you receive(d).

Even though Section 6 is slated for completion in 2027, expect to see construction activity starting in 2019. It’s nice to have an attorney on your side throughout this process, and it’s never too early to be prepared when you are facing the loss of your property through eminent domain.