A 27-mile caravan led by Indiana Governor Mike Pence and Evansville Mayor Lloyd Winnecke opened a new section of I-69.
During a ceremony at Odon, Indiana, Governor Pence invited Winnecke, former Lt. Governor Becky Skillman, and INDOT Commissioner Brandye Hendrickson to ride in an INDOT pick-up truck.
With Pence at the wheel, the truck broke through a ribbon and officially opened the interstate highway between Crane and Bloomington.
Before the ceremony, Mayor Winnecke told WNIN News the Evansville-to-Bloomington link has been a long time coming. He thanked generations of leaders who made it possible.
The I-69 extension now runs 94 miles between Evansville and Bloomington, reducing travel time and increasing safety.
Crews are upgrading State Road 37 to interstate standards between Bloomington and Martinsville. That work is expected to wrap-up in 12-to-18 months.
The Martinsville-to-Indianapolis section of the I-69 extension is still in the planning stages.