Major construction coming to Indiana highways and bridges

NOW: Major construction coming to Indiana highways and bridges
NEXT:

GOSHEN, Ind. - Highways and bridges across Indiana are about to get one big makeover.

The Next Level Roads project starts in 2018, and will include five years of infrastructure reconstruction.

Billy Herrell drives a semi from his hometown in Goshen all over the state, and says the roads are bad.

“All the roads are falling apart. The semis are going across tearing them up but I drive a semi. I understand,” Herrell said.

Herrell, head driver for Lion’s Head Specialty Tires and Wheel says he is willing to invest tax money in fixing the roads.

“I think it’s going to be a great idea, but unfortunately it’s going to cause a lot of headache and hassle during the meantime,” Herrell said.

State officials aren’t denying that.

Gov. Eric Holcomb visited Goshen Monday to talk about the project.

“We want to make sure that when we look back on the last five years we’ve made the historical progress in terms of making sure people get to and from in the safest way possible,” Holcomb said.

In Elkhart and St. Joseph counties,  most of that progress will be focused on US 20 and its bridges.

The project totals about $4.7 billion dollars statewide.

Some money does come from taxpayers, including the gas tax increase and a fee for driving electric cars.

The five years of construction will start in 2018.

While it’ll drive Herrell crazy at work, he’s willing to make the sacrifice for a safer drive in the future.

“It’s a double-edged sword. You want to complain about the construction but the roads are in poor condition,” Herrell said.

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