Why THESE STATES Want I-69 SO BAD | The Superhighway Revisited
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 19 พ.ย. 2023
- Interstate 69 is America's next great superhighway. In 2023 I was able to visit some of the areas that this highway is supposed to go through and see first hand the conditions on the ground. On this video we'll take a look at where things currently stand.
Cities Explored: www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mi...
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Original I-69 Video:
• Why I-69 Is Taking SO ...
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Sources and Further Reading:
I-69 Finish Line: Indiana
i69finishline.com/
I-69 Texas:
ftp.txdot.gov/pub/txdot/get-i...
Lufkin, TX:
By Billy Hathorn - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, commons.wikimedia.org/w/index...
I-69 Union City Bypass Opening:
www.nwtntoday.com/2023/09/20/...
Mississippi delta resident here 🙋🏽♂️🙋🏽♂️ everything you said about this state is true. 😢😢😢 I’m a truck driver and I always say Mississippi needs a few more interstates plus better road ways
I've lived in Michigan since 1998 and had no idea that I69 was intended to extend down to Mexico. Here in Michigan we've always taken it for granted, and we use it to travel south to I94 to go to Illinois, south through Indiana, or north to cross the Blue Water Bridge into Canada. Most of I69 in Michigan extends through rural areas, which is one reason it is such a pleasure to drive. The portion south of Lansing carries very little traffic, and the portion north of Lansing carries even less. Thanks for a very informative video.
I live a few minutes from 69. I use it to traverse to Port Huron and Back and Occasionally up to the Flint area. I refer to the stretch between me and Flint as Deer Alley. Also, it's almost always under construction lol
That is some bullshit that Bill Clinton started years ago.
In my hometown of Battle Creek MI we’ve got a stretch off of I94 that goes to downtown called the Penetrator, and a nearby town called Climax. We joke that the Penetrator is halfway between I69 and Climax 🤣
@@smeadieIn my day I-69 was used to visit my grandmother in Fort Wayne and my dad's twin sister in Indianapolis. When the freeway ended at the beltway in which road continued as Binford boulevard. That used to be State Route 37. Which was the main route between Indianapolis and Fort Wayne before the freeway now it's a discontinuity between them.
There is a lot of truck traffic between Ontario and Mexico. The Blue Water and the Ambassador are the busiest truck traffic spots in the world.
So much that a 3rd bridge is being built. The Gordy Howe Bridge. It also goes south into Canada.
I grew up in Evansville IN and I-69 was very controversial when I was a kid. There were a lot of people who were upset about the proposed routes and the eminent domaining of property in order to construct a new roadway instead of upgrading existing roads. I actually know two families whose homes were taken over in order to build the road. On the other hand, the completed I-69 between Evansville and Bloomington cuts more than an hour off of that drive alone. It’s a wonderful road to drive on and I use it constantly.
I always find it funny to see people with anti-I-69 bumper stickers driving on I-69 though, lol
Yeah, I live close to Evansville, and, the big thing now is putting the bridge in over the Ohio River through Henderson, KY.
They took a lot of generational farms for this job and most likely didn't pay very well for it.
I live in Madisonville and In this area the 69 is a very big deal
It seemed the problem for most farms was that individual houses got a much higher percentage point. (14 when it should have been 8, if I remember right) Not to mention that farmland FEELS more valuable when you own it.@@benjaminrankin9065
The original lefler body shop is buried under the Lloyd expressway... Evansville is no stranger to eminent domain. I will say that Texas really needs to finish their part. The roads are terrible. (Not as bad as i70 in indiana, but pretty bad)
A few years back I would travel along the parkways to get from the far southeast corner of KY, where I live, over to where the western KY parkway hits I24. I remember the "Future I69 Corridor" signs. The last time I was out that way, it was signed as "I69" from Hopkinsville (I169 junction) out to I24. The interchange they built back at I169 was a headache during construction but now it is awesome! And, yes, we love our parkways! Come out and drive them, especially those in Eastern KY. Some of the most beautiful lands and scenic by ways I have ever seen!
Thanks for this video! Great stuff!
Always weird seeing the face of someone that you watched several videos where they are audio only.
He's done it before, but this was the longest video with the camera pointed at him. Nice to know that his great radio voice isn't matched by a typical face for radio😅.
I've seen him on Instagram already.
even if this isn't the first time it's so weird for a second like the audio and video doesn't match but then you get used to it
17:17 - A new Ohio River bridge here would be one bridge replacing these two bridges?
I never seen his face. A radio DJ voice
The portion just south of Indianapolis is nearly complete ( 5 miles remaining) and it's extremely nice. A welcome addition to the area.
Ya they’re putting in a glory hole at that truck stop there
I-69 is just a mile from here. It was farm land and so was the land where I-94 travels when I grew up and left for the Navy. When I came back, I-69 and I-94 were there crossing in Marshall, Michigan.
Just landed on this video by chance and man, I’ve never been into highways before. But something about how you’ve put this together just clicks. Now I’m hooked. Great job.
OK the 69-96 situation really got me
Right lmaooo
😂
There is another 69-96 overlap... US 69 and US 96 overlap from just north of Beaumont to where the 2 roads share a terminus in Port Arthur.
"Do with that information what you will." LOL! 😂
It’s always nice to see a fellow black man interested in this field!
Same here
Emphasis on the "nice"
@@LakeMorris-xh1if that wasn’t even intentional LMAO
Another big possible big motivation for Indiana to create this "NAFTA Superhighway" is because of the GMC Sierra and Chevrolet Silverado assembly plant just south of Fort Wayne at the southern terminus of I-469. The plant is conveniently placed near an interstate that will connect some of the largest southern border crossings all the way up to it directly. This is important because many components that go into these General Motor trucks are actually manufactured in Mexico. The assembly plant is a strong backbone for Fort Wayne's continuous growth and hub for large businesses.
I've worked all across the gulf coast and up into the Midwest and Indiana by far is the fastest growing state I've seen, in ten years you don't recognize anything
NAFTA was replaced by the USMCA... you either weren't paying attention or you're mad about it. Either way, it is gone.
Don't forget a huge percentage of Silverados are actually built down in Mexico.
@@edcarman4704It's basically the same thing, just rebranded so Trump could claim credit for it. Not trying to create a political argument.
@@DntHtThPlya Indeed. Who cares what bullshit lie and branding they sell. Its still the same fucking plan.
I live about 20 minutes from i-69 in a town called Muncie in Indiana between Fort Wayne and Indianapolis. So i-69 has been an important highway for me my entire life. But I never knew any of the information you have presented here. This is just fascinating stuff. Right under my nose. Thank you for presenting it.
You're a real geographer--not just a purveyor of factoids and listicles. Thanks.
hi
Born/raised in Indianapolis, then spent 13 years in Fort Wayne before moving to Houston. Have traveled it to Port Huron when travelling for business to Toronto. Aside from I-69 south of Houston, I'm pretty sure I've been on every stretch of it multiple times. 🙂
Did you stop at the glory hole in Benton?
As someone who lives about an hour north of Evansville on 69, I'm so happy that the project in Indy is almost finished. I am from Michigan and moved here almost 15 years ago.
The amount of time saved when we travel there or back is at least 1 1/2 hours. As has been pointed out, the barrels going north of Evansville never disappear, they just randomly change places about once a month.😏
I travel on I-69 in Indiana once a week currently. INDOT is getting very close to having the I-69/I-465 interchange finished. They are also adding travel lanes and upgrading bridges on I-465 as that is part of the route of I-69. It is interesting to watch the conversion, but I will be happy, happy, happy when it is completely finished. I remember when I-65 was being upgraded in southern Indiana from the Ohio River up to about the 7-mile marker. That seemed like an eternity.
That's because it was an eternity.
You must be referring to the portion of 69 northeast of Indy, which is a major reorganization of that interchange with 465, but much of which was already in place. Currently on the south stretch of 465, an all-new massive interchange with 69 southbound is still nowhere near finished.
I am referring to the southside interchange, they are getting closer all the time to completion. I tend to stay clear of the NE corner of 465.@@chrislgarner4927
I worked for engineering firm tha did the design work on that portion of I-65 and it was in our office for what seamed likan eternity, also. This was long before the construction ever started.
Sounds almost as bad as the BS that goes on in New York! I thought Indiana was more of a red state that can get things done!😢
Michigan raised its speed limits for some rural 2 lane highways to 75mph. Including I-69 between Lansing & Flint and then Flint & Port Huron. It's my super highway living in the thumb to Flint where i work! Watch for deer though! 🦌 😅
I’m originally from Saginaw and we’d take 69 to get everywhere west of us soooooo many deer are on 69 from flint to lansing
I'm from St Clair Co and use I-69 often to travel into Port Huron - good road !!
I live near Flint. I have deer stories.🙄
So smooth now from Flint to Lake Pleasant Rd. Used to be wretched. The only bumps are the deer carcasses.
If any town needs a economic boost it’s Mayfield, KY it’s basically a parking lot at the moment even 2 years after the EF4 tornado nearly erased it
Mayfield got hit by nasty storms last year and this year as well it’s not doing the best but I hope it can become a great area again
Yeah Kentucky in general has been on a downslide. That area of the country is neglected for the coasts.
Great idea. Western Kentucky in general could really benefit from a major thoroughfare
@@ThePettyQueenTo be honest it’s never been that great I grew up in and around Mayfield most of my life but if Mayfield can get people in office that actually give a damn about it’s people Mayfield might not become the next Cairo, IL
Great summary, Mike! Love watching your work.
You made a great point about I-69 being an alternative to I-35 in Austin. I live in Austin and I-35 is gridlocked most of the time. I used to live in Houston and drove on US-59 both north and south from Houston. I use to commute from SW Houston to downtown on US-59. It really needs improvement and upgrades, and Houston is underserved by the interstate highway system.
These are always so well done. I got a bunch of other stuff I SHOULD be doing, but I wind up travelling with Mike. And I don't even live in any of these states. LOL
Smart man!
Living in California, I can confirm that this is necessary information for some day in the future when I might drive within 1000 miles of I-69
This highway is very important to trade between Canada, the U.S., and Mexico so it surprised me it hasn't been built.
no it isn't, the air routes to the hub in Memphis and beyond is capable of handling most of it, in both directions. Nothing on land beyond Memphis northbound is needed, and the States should do that themselves.
The Federal highway system is complete.
The green lobby doesn''t want anyone driving anywhere after 2035 anyway.
@@rayrussell6258 When it comes to the cost of goods - nobody cares what the green lobby wants when it comes down to it. The fact is, it is still FAR cheaper to run trucks than planes these days to ship mass quantities. It's not even close. Completing one last major artery from our northern border to the south would be a major route relief. Doesn't matter who funds it, this is a fractional amount of money compared to any other expense that we shouldn't actually be paying out of the budget.
@@rayrussell6258plus we should do like the E.U. and make it so all factories that make products of certain weight have to be along the railways and or waterways, because most of the damage to roads isn't done by light vehicles, but by freight trucks. In a perfect world were the government did the right thing, I'd still want this road to be built, while they destroyed roads with to many lanes, because I do agree we have come to a point were we have plenty of highways, but as far as having all of them we need I'd say we probably haven't build the most efficient system, and there are some whole highways that shouldn't exist that do, while there are some that should that don't. Plus this highway is very symbolic.
The Interstate is built a lot heavier than just for freight trucks by it's own spec. If the roads can't handle trucks, blame who ever built them. We paid for them to be able to handle not only trucks, But a lot more including trucks with military tanks on them. Double the weight is was we paid for. Canada has no such problems. When they build a road, it's forever. Their money goes into the roads, not someone's pocket. I knew a guy who sold bridge expansion connectors. He told me to deal in the States was a nightmare, the U.S. wanted the cheapest product period; while the Canadians demanded the best. That's the difference people. We had the I-990 closed before it was opened. It fell apart before they could paint the lines. I'm not making this up. A semi truck grossed at 80,000 lbs has less weight per square inch on the road surface than a woman's high heels and that's the truth. Do you believe the I-35 bridge collapsed because of trucks? Or because they cut every corner they could think of when they built it? If you guessed cutting corners you win a cookie. @@cliffwoodbury5319
@@cliffwoodbury5319 I don't want my tax dollars wasted on "symbolic".
Trucks are unfairly blamed for road damage. From an engineer's viewpoint, think of it this way ..... high pitched sound can break glass, low pitched noise does not.
The volume of light vehicles on the roads swamps the number of trucks. The high pitch (light vehicles) are damaging roads more than low pitch (trucks), especially since highways are built to handle the trucks' weight by design.
Now after enough cracks appear in the roadway, heavy vehicles will make it worse faster ..... but that is a secondary effect. The light vehicles caused more damage.
Anyway, I'm not in favor of a highway that will benefit Mexico and Canada more than it does the US, which is really what the I-69 project would do. It would reduce jobs in the US, and create jobs for our neighboring countries.
Recently in the past few years I-69 was completely redone in the city of Flint. Honestly the state road workers did a great job. Smooth driving. I've never seen that section of I-69 look so great in my entire life. Thanks for the informative video.
If the footage for the Evansville, IN to Henderson, KY bridge was taken between September - November 2023 that was actually a bridge inspection and not technically maintenance. Although I guess you could consider that maintenance in a way. I'm an Evansville resident and KDOT put out a notice for the inspections sometime in July/August. Great Video!
Good to know. It was in October.
I remember I-69 being under construction in 1960 from Michigan south going thru Fort Wayne Indiana ending in Indianapolis. That was done before 1970 as i took it to get my draft physical in Indianapolis. Did not go any farther that that for decades. Once they decided to expand farther south it seemed to go quicker by using existing highways to avoid environmental delays.
As A resident of Evansville IN, This Highway is very important for the reasons you state, also the roads to IU university were dangerously curvy and my father lost a friend who died traveling to the university on a motorcycle between Evansville.
I lived one exit down from I-69 down in Evansville. It's gonna transform everything. Used to own the now "Clarion Pointe Hotel"
I also live in Evansville and I-69 is the quickiest way for me to travel to Indianapolis tough I don't quite enjoy it, it's quite boring.
@@ObscureManifestoas a Canadian not familiar with American highways expansions outside from knowing how many y’all have, when you say it’ll change “everything”, id really appreciate some boots on ground insight on how the area will be affected 😊😊
@@Yuvraj.Mainly referencing the supercharging of development.
@@Yuvraj. URBAN SPRAWL is what they mean. In America basically more than half our service sector jobs are located within 15 minutes of an interstate highway exit. Then other businesses build up around there, then houses, then a couple walmarts. Its disgusting city planning that only produces human misery. These people are clapping as Evansville Indiana is about to get fucking destroyed and unaffordable for the people currently living in what was once an out of the way flyover country city. "growth" comes at the price of pushing people out of their homes. That's what these uneducated fools are clapping like seals for. They think having 5 McDonalds in less than 5 miles is a badge of American excellence.
*I hate what they did to my country.*
Ugh! I live about two miles west of SR 37 on the south side of Indianapolis which is where they're redesignating it to the I69 project. It truly is a nightmare and feels like it's never going to end. What used to be a pleasant trip on the back roads to the southeast side of the city is arduous at best. And complicating things is the fact there are only three ways to cross White River that divides the east side from the west side; I 465 (a complete disaster and all torn up with building new on and off ramps for the south side), Southport Rd (now closed and under construction for a new bridge crossing White River), and SR 144 (finally pretty much completed but traffic is crazy and it forces you to go south in order to turn around and go back north). I reckon I will see the benefit when it's all completed but I will miss the mom and pop restaurants and stores that were forced to shut down as well as the easy access to all the roads which were once utilized off SR 37. In short, I will miss my country-side because with an interstate comes a bunch of other crap I really don't want to see.
As a person who travelled back and forth between Houston and Michigan a number of times, I can attest to just how badly I-69 is needed. Going the Houston-Dallas-Texarkana route is a lot longer, and I-59 itself is one major mess. If we want trade and passenger traffic to move from Houston to the north, this highway is a must-have.
I actually live ON I-69 here in Indianapolis. In fact, I recognised a spot in one of your clips that was only 5-ish minutes away from my house. So watching both of your videos gave me a lot of context and appreciation for the interstate. ^.^ It's a safe bet that we want 69 to finish as quickly as possible. The road construction is just so intense right now, I think everyone will breath easier once they finally remove those cones
As a fellow Indy resident I agree, it will be great to have a quick and easier way to access Evansville and other parts of southern Indiana. The old way of going taking I-70 to Terre Haute and then down US 41 was a miserable drive once off of I-70.
I have been a long time and frequent user of I-69 north, living in Indy and having family in Ft. Wayne, I have driven and been a passenger on that stretch my entire life. Now going to northern Michigan for vacations, I take it to just beyond Lansing.
69 outside evansville stays under repair.
those cones wont just disappear. they will pop up over and over again. its 1 lane from Bluegrass FWA to 64 almost all the time.
Also Evansville area. I believe the road cone to be IN state flower.
They just in the last few days opened a major interchange in Johnson county, the last one before crossing into Marion county. My cousin had to move from land that his family had occupied for decades because of this project.
It makes me queasy when I see what they did to the part between Martinsville and Bloomington. It used to be so interesting and scenic where it cut through the hillsides. And of course they hired someones brother-in-law to build it , who couldn't get it done.
I think this will really benefit the Canadians since there will be just 1 US interstate from the southern border to Canada's golden horseshoe which is where most Canadians live
It's about food.
@@KB-ke3fiwhat type of food?
To be fair, you also have I-75 near the Ambassador Bridge after a short connection on I-96. But unfortunately I-75 will take you to Florida....
Maybe Canada should offer the Southern states a Godfather offer to subsidize construction
I live in Southeast Michigan and I find myself using I-69 for personal and business travel often enough. It fills a need of connecting places I go to and providing an alternate route to avoid construction zones and heavy traffic areas. It will be interesting as the various sections become completed and it becomes an important North-South corridor.
Ft. Wayne resident here. I am also a truck driver and have driven much of the completed and future corridors. I am really excited to see the whole super highway completed.
Indianapolis resident that used to live in Princeton for 17 years and I still remember that stretch from I-64 to US 41 in Evansville where they used to name it as I-164, still have been trying to get used to that stretch of highway as I-69 signage. They have gotten the work in towards extending I-465 here to compensate for the extra traffic
Really appreciate the work and research you put into your vids. They’re interesting and informative.
I live in the Houston TX area and there’s so much to say (both good and bad) about this state’s dedication to the freeway/interstate system that I wouldn’t know where to start complementing/complaining.
Keep up the great work!
I 69 in Michigan has numerous rebuilt sections and it is heavily damaged in others. The truck traffic is very high due to the Bluewater bridge crossing to Sarnia, Canada. Which has a relatively new span as well as the old one. 69 through Indiana is in great shape. Have taken it many times to 70 in Indianapolis.
The roads in Southern Michigan are always in bad shape or undergoing repair. The problem of numerous freeze thaw cycles each year makes road maintenance very difficult. Simply put 1 year is the equivalent of decades elsewhere.
Michigan allows substantially more weight on trucks than the surrounding states, which is why the roads remain so beat-up here.
I believe but am not sure that is because the toll for the Ambassador is high enough.
Plus I-75, I -96 & I-94 has a lot of traffic.
Starting, stopping & dodging fools with a loaded semi sucks fuel.
Always interesting to watch your videos. Keep up the good work.
I actually laughed out loud at your comment about Lufkin. 😂 I’ve lived here my whole life, but work mostly in Dallas and Houston. I69 will undoubtedly be a positive thing for this region economically and I’m looking forward to having an interstate all the way to Houston!
I grew up in Hudson and Lufkin. Then moved to Nacogdoches. I still travel to Lufkin every week. I used to just use Timberland drive, but now it's a bit more convenient and I don't even have to interact with any red lights in Lufkin any more.
I always hear about your city immediately followed by Nacogdoches whenever there’s bad weather on the weather radio. I listen to the NWS out if SHV
We have lived in Robstown outside of Corpus Christi, TX for 23 years now. I69 is one of the best things that has happened to this area! To actually watch the progress of the Interstate development is amazing! We travel between Robstown and Houston quite often and have had to deal with construction along that route the entire time we have lived here but it is so nice once they complete each portion. The entire I69 route will be so convenient for us when it is finally completed! Thank you for your report!
Live in West TN the highways going in for our area is great. Its not signed yet but they are building the corridor
Recently moved to Little Rock and regularly travel on I-40 and I-30. I will greatly appreciate when I-69 can offload some of the traffic from those other two very busy interstates through AR.
Great summary/update. I was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana and now live in Evansville, Indiana. So happy the two are nearly connected by I-69. Looking forward to making the trek from Port Huron to Brownsville one day.
Great job on the update! I live off exit 7 of I-24 in Kentucky and use I-69 almost daily! I'm excited as I know the opportunities that this international corridor will bring.
i think its really surprising just how little rail freight passes along the same route, like i35 and i30 in texas are some of the busiest road freight corridors in the country, i69 would take some weight off it but you already saw how bad the parts of it in texas are.
a single railway track moves as much freight as 10 lanes of highway
i do understand where you are coming from, but try getting our railroad companies to build anything along a interstate roadway.
they will laugh in your face and walk you out the door. they don't bother with attempting any level of basic maintence or safety for their current routes, so why would they build any new rail along interstates?
@@Zeakthecat the greed of american railroad companies shouldnt be a reason to not to improve railroad infrastructure
i didnt mean explicitly using interstate right of way(though that normally is a good idea) i just meant the general direction as i69 is planned to be
and also the plan for i69 was the secondary alternate corridor after the TTC failed, which contained SIX railway lines running along the highway corridor
@@vincentgrinn2665 even so, they do have a controlling stake in the vast majority of raillines in the country, and they control a vast amount of the nations cargo transport, the only thing the USDOT can do is keep them happy.
its one of 3 major reasons why amtrak is struggling so much to build rail as well, and maintain high speed rail corridors, most of the rail corridors in major cities were originally for passenger services before they were switched to cargo, and the very quadpoly that controls those same corridors through urban areas also owns them. the only way you are getting anywhere close to 1 railway line along I-69, even if its built outside of the metros, is if the state DOTs themselves build em, and theres only so much pork(money and political will) to go around.
@@Zeakthecat yes well keeping them happy is what got us in this mess in the first place, why theyre able to get away with whatever they want
its not a good thing
also theres already a railway running along side i69e up into houston
and another running from laredo along side the i30
@Zeakthecat
Not unless you are the MTA, which is quite infamously corrupt, even though it is a state government run public corp
Indianapolis resident. The changes from Indianapolis to Evansville are mind blowing. The road is and will finish out to be really good. I was surprised at the interstate between Chicago up to Milwaukee and a little further north when I took it last year for the first time and that’s really good too.
I 2nd your comments about the poor state of the roads around Jackson, MS. Was through there just last month and by far the worst section of interstate I've driven. And for reference, I've driven through 29 of the lower 48 states.
Thanks for making this fantastic documentary! I've lived near I-69 (Fishers IN) during much of my adult life, going north to Ft. Wayne. Glad to have enjoyed part of I-69 toward Evansville from Bloomington. It's great to have 4 major interstates crossing through my hometown.
Given the ongoing freeway renovations in Texas (where the transition from asphalt to concrete on interstate roads is a notable example), there is no reason why Texas shouldn't be contemplating the idea of extending I-69 along U.S. 59 by converting it to meet interstate standards. This would align with their modernization trend, and it would be worth TXDOT's time to explore this possibility. Additionally, evaluating the feasibility of constructing a continuous freeway from Houston to Austin, perhaps by converting U.S. 290 into a full freeway between the two cities, could enhance efficiency and reduce travel time, especially by minimizing stops at traffic lights in towns along the route.
I want trains. :(
Ugh 290 being a freeway would be sooo nice
@@RandumbNessGamingwe can have both
Facts on facts
@@RandumbNessGaming I'm out in Katy; north of the City of Katy. A train between Katy and Downtown Houston would have been amazing. What did they do though? They ripped up an existing rail corridor to put in the one of the widest if not the widest freeways in the world. At least we have the Katy Tollway. When I do need to go to Houston it is usually on weekends and I'm with my wife. So a combination of Katy Tollway and HOV lanes gets us in and out of Houston FAST while paying a buck each way. (if we're already spending hundreds to go to a game or a nice restaurant, a few bucks extra doesn't make much difference) It's roughly 30 miles between Downtown Houston and the City of Katy.
Mike once again you continue to put out great content. Appreciate the I-69 update. I live in Ohio but travel Indiana frequently and looking forward to the final segment to be completed.. Keep the good content coming.
Thanks
Fulton KY is liable to experience huge growth, which is... different. As someone who grew up there, it's a small town of 4k people (when combined with its Twin City, South Fulton TN)
Hoping to see my hometown experience some growth from the highways completion, they've definately put in the world in the last 2 years to open new buisiness and hotels (maybe in hopes of the highway bringing in new people)
That whole stretch through the Western Purchase area of Kentucky, as well as far western Tennessee from Union City to Memphis will see major benefits. With Reelfoot Lake bit west of Union City, tourism will develop further. It won't hurt U.C. or Dyersburg either.
higher crime, traffic and taxes, whoopi
@@standingbear998 Quick, now name three good things.
Great video on I69. Learning new roads across our country all the time. Thanks for a little history lesson and geography on this interstate.
Great job, as always. The rhythm of your voice keeps material that could be dry from putting the listener to sleep. Keep up the good work.
I hope the beds in your motel are more comfortable than they look. I no I am not alone in appreciate the road warrior effort you put into these informative videos.
Born and raised in Michigan but live in Tennessee. I take i69 every time! It’s closer to me then i65 and way more convenient. Through all of Kentucky and up until Indianapolis it is easy driving! Would love to see the areas of Kentucky and Indiana get finished soon
I lived in Michigan for 26 years and never drove on I-69 out of Port Huron until I visited years later, and went from Port Huron to I-75, then north to Traverse City. I did drive on 69 around Lansing when I was probably 23 years old.
What an amazing overview of such an important topic that is otherwise overlooked and information is sketchy at best. Wonderful job. New subscriber !!
Fun fact, I-69 in Michigan was the last interstate to be built here back in 1992, and that's unlikely to change anytime soon. Between the cost and the fact that there's no need for new interstates since the major metros are already well connected MDOT has no plans for more freeways
They have built freeways since 1992 - M-6 and the US-31 extension come to mind. New interstates, though? You're right, unlikely.
@@stsensual yeah after connecting US 31 (which should've been done years ago in my opinion) I don't forsee further Highway expansion here, and if it ever does happen it would probably be around the Grand Rapids area or Traverse City
@@nothat0therguy992agreed. I'd personally like to see M-6 become an Interstate, maybe I-296, and be extended north from its current western terminus near Hudsonville to rejoin I-96 west of Walker. It might alleviate some of the craziness on M-37, and maybe even a bit of 131 through downtown GR.
@@stsensual It's quite odd how most cities in Michigan don't have a true beltline Freeway, there are some quasi beltways around cities like M-6, but they are typically partial bypasses, so you often have to go through heavy traffic
I could see I-196 becoming I-67 but that would just be a renumbering of an existing interstate. It's on the Indiana side that a new interstate would be built.
I really enjoy your presentation style. This one was even more fun than usual.
Even though I don’t live in any of these states along the route, I definitely want to see I-69 completed. It will greatly help the economic vitality of these areas. By increasing the economy of these states, it will in turn benefit the entire country.
Thanks Mike! Great channel . See ya on the next one.
This is excellent. Very informative. Thank you.
I grew up in east-central Indiana, so I've seen I-69 between I-465 and IN-67 from the time it was completed, but I have yet to see what they've done since 2017... we moved to southern Oklahoma.
I grew up hearing about the future Indy to Evansville corridor, but it took Governor Mitch Daniels to finally get that done.
As for the US-41 bridge over the Ohio, that bridge caused me to miss the 2017 total solar eclipse. I couldn't get through there quickly enough to reach the path of totality. That bridge can't possibly get replaced quickly enough!
Hopefully you have better luck watching the April 2024 eclipse
They sold out the toll road to do it. In 2007, truck toll was 15 bucks end to end for a semi, now its over 60. So Mitch Daniel's didn't really do crap to get the highway done other than screwing the drivers of Northern Indiana for 75 years.
That bridge and region is a pile of shit
@@montana_patriotthe toll road was sold to cover a sunsetted budget shortfall left by Evan Bayh. Daniels ordered the books audited when he became governor. Bayh had cut a deal for Medicaid reform in Indiana that a lumpsum payment would come due in 2012. As a trucker, selling that tollroad was an incredibly good deal. It is now safer and much better maintained. Ohio sold their section of tollroad to the same company.
The section between Indy and Evansville is wonderful. They used spans as much as possible to not disrupt the farms and scenery as much as possible.
You packed a ton of information into this video, and that's a lot more demanding than might be obvious. Nicely done, please keep up the great work.
Appreciate it!
Thank you, love the information!
I must be a geek, I enjoy these videos. You have a very soft-spoken deliberate style I like that. Easy to listen to. You sound well informed. Good luck in all you do.
Mike your videos are so interesting, your scripts are great (assuming you write it down first, and if you don't oh my goodness, wow!) your voice is super calming and you always bring up things that I would never have thought about, or answer weird/specific things that I thought I was the only one who thought about. Can't wait for more from you!
Hi Mike, your videos are so very informative; I enjoy them immensely. I lived in MI for a while, but never had occasion to drive on I69. I've driven plenty on I96 and I696 though :)
It would actually be great for those states who want this interstate access to be able to have it, so hopefully the funding comes through someday. 🤞Thanks!
Glad you like them!
I just discovered this channel and I already love it. Informative and interesting. I just subbed!
Thanks and welcome
Such an in-depth video my guy, well done
This is such an Underrated Channel! I love Mileage Mike! His voice would be perfect for a show that needs a Narrator!🙌
I have been on the endpoint of the Super 2 bypass portion south of Monticello only, but having driven on I-30 and I -40 extensively in Arkansas, the freight relief would certainly be welcome.
Thank you for such an excellent presentation - All your presentations are great! Much appreciated!
This was informative and educational. Thanks!
Good video, always interested in highways as well. Definitely love them as a trucker. I-69 has definitely picked up full steam in Indiana and Kentucky. So by the end of this decade we should have a complete highway in those areas. Been through almost all the areas where I-69 is proposed.
I like the cheaper gas in Henderson KY. Lol
I am a Texas resident, a Houstonian to be more specific, and long ago I had to adapt from calling SH 149 to US 249... I think I can do the same for US-59 to IH-69. I appreciate the research you have done on this and other videos.
“IH-69” screams Houston. The entire rest of the country says “I-69”, including the rest of Texas even if they still put “IH-xx” on the signs of the frontage roads.
Will always be 59 or the southwest freeway
I, too, am a native Houstonian, and what you're proposing is blasphemy. It will always be 59 for the highway, and the Southwest Freeway for the feeder. 🤷🏾♀️
@@kylericks7861, I'm sure it will change eventually, but not anytime too soon. I suspect the main driving force of change will be GPS/navigation systems and Google Maps as they tend to favor I-69 over SH 59. People using those will internalize its name as I-69.
Still, referring to it as I-69 in Houston indicates that you're either new to the city, a journalist, or part of the government.
@awvarwymandubratius7906, to clarify, you meant FM 149 to SH 249. I never noticed people conflating the two, but I moved here in 1992 for college and wasn't driving in that direction until 1997 when that was my route to work. Its name changed in 1988. I suspect that name change went more smoothly for people because it's not nearly as major as 59 and many people never use it. Many more people use 59 at least occasionally.
As long as I am around, it will always be HWY 59! You whippersnappers call it whatever you want after I’m gone!
As a Michigan resident, the 69/96 situation made me giggle. I live in an area that has me rarely traveling on 96, but the next time I drive it, I'll keep it in mind!
I have driven on 69 en route to (and heading home from) St. Louis, MO a handful of times. Probably will next year too!
when you're young it's all 69, later on it turns to 96 :(
My family is from the Bloomington area in Indiana, but we make a lot of trips back and forth to Indy for work and school, and have been doing so for well over a decade. It’s been really frustrating how long and arduous the construction process for 69 has been. By the time it’s finished, we’ll be about done making those constant trips, so we won’t really get much benefit from its completion. It’s easily taken 100s of hours of our lives being stuck in extra traffic due to construction along the route.
Oh BULLSHIT!!!Well over a decade?!?! In 2015, 69 opens from U.S.231 to Bloomington. In 2018, 69 opens from Bloomington to Martinsville! If you are from the Bloomington area as you claim to be you would have traveled Old 37 through Morgan/Monroe State forest and then come out back on 37/69 just south of Martinsville. If it was closed next to the by pass through Martinsville then travel on the by pass through town or over to 67 then go to Indy. Yes there were some delays and traffic was slow at times but 100s of hours?!?! I drove through there dozens of times, it wasn't THAT bad!! This was money WELL spent. So happy to be able to drive from Evansville to South Bend with just SIX stoplights between them. 20 years ago it was WELL over 40!!
@@shilohpuppy5649Well as long as it's convenient for your travel schedule that's all that matters!! I'm in Martinsville right next to the section of 37 they just completely shut down for a year and all of a sudden 2 major 4 lane highways had to go right through the town square!! Pain in the ass is an understatement and it's been every bit of 10 years since the first surveying stakes were laid out. It was horrible but it's going to be so nice when it finally connects to 465! Even with all the construction slow downs going on still thru Johnson and Marion counties it's already faster than it was when it was SR37..
Should be building highspeed rail. That would truly shave off a lot of travel time.
@@adventurefaps9571 High speed rails are great except for the millions and millions of dollars per mile they cost to build and the fact that Americans don't like mass transit. We want to be able to drive around the destination city's stores and restaurants etc when we get there
@@WKRP187 Also, high speed rail doesn't make sense for this corridor; there aren't enough major cities along it (and those that exist are too far apart). There are better candidates for high-speed rail projects in the US, such as Boston to DC (with stops at New York and Philly along the way).
Your reasons for Louisiana's disinterest are all right on the money. But I'd also add there is regional politics in play within the state. State politics are dominated by the interests of South Louisiana. Baton Rouge doesn't care about north Louisiana at all.
So true
The bridge between Henderson Kentucky and Evansville Indiana is so needed. The current bridge has no street lights or anything it's terrible the new bridge is rumored to be a toll and at the exit ramps will have roundabouts locals are not happy.😂
After this video I am very happy that when traveling between Evansville and Owensboro, I always take the scenic route between the back road and the bridge at the latter’s downtown.
INDOT is currently using round-abouts for as many new and rebuilt interchanges as possible. They claim the RA’s smooth traffic and reduce crashes
Driven it many times through Indiana into Michigan. I didn't realize it was unfinished! Thanks for the great report.
Very interesting video Mike. Just subscribed.
What is also needed is an east/west 4 lane (preferably interstate) between I10 (houston) and I20 (Dallas). From Alexandria La, to Austin or Waco Texas, specifically. I live in one of the small towns in east texas that I69 presently goes thru. It will likely be the final nail in the heart of an already declining town.
For TN, it should also be noted, adding I-69 through Memphis will take some of the stress off of the three other major cities' interstates as trucks could potentially shave time off their drives passing through the state. I-24/75 intersection in Chattanooga has got to be one of the worst interchanges I've ever driven through.
An excellent report. Congrats
Fun video! you're living the dream, getting to make these videos gives you the excuse to travel and see so much of our amazing country. Other than being a trucker or maybe part of a pilot car team, there aren't many ways to get paid to cover extensive amounts of our highways.
btw as a michigander yes i 69 has been very important for us here and is a vital main link other than 94 to get from east to west vice versa sides of the state where our population corridor lies.
i already know all about it, but it would be interesting to see a video about i-84 in connecticut in terms of the planned expansion to providence, the planned beltway around hartford, the planned tunneling under hartford, and the craziness of the highway itself going through hartford, which makes it clear why the beltway was planned and why they want to cap the highway in the future.
Thanks so much for this information. You are genuinely helping regional economic development!
Thank you, this was very interesting! My son and I traveled from Monroe County, Michigan to Bloomington, Indiana on a college visit to IU, and we were very interested in all the new construction and the signs highlighting the “new” I-69 freeway in Indiana. I did some research to learn about it back then, but your video really helped answer a lot of questions. I’ve always been interested in maps and roads, and it’s very interesting to me to learn the process that it takes to put in a “super highway.” As someone who has lived with I-69 in the state of Michigan her whole life, to think that it might actually run from Canada to Mexico someday is pretty amazing!
It’s definitely going to make traveling easier in Indiana.
I'm all for it for I-69, especially a new route to avoid gridlock and creating alternative routes from Northeast to Southwest. Like the I-35E and I-30 junction. It has traffic from the northeastern points of the country and heading to the southern border. An important connection point, but its congested. I can foresee I-69 in Mississippi just being built on the NW corner of that state, and entering Arkansas near Marianna AR. Then again a concurrency with I-40. In Little Rock metro can be on the I-440 beltway for I-69, then concurrent with I-30 until Texarkana with I-49 and on the bypass with reaching US 59 onto Carthage, then to Houston and beyond. Arkansas seems more interested on I-69 than any southern state where I-69 will be, and may determine on new alternative route plans parallel to I-30. If Louisiana isn't interested building new roads or its very pricy for Mississippi. The new I-69 Bridge, it's the best bet for Mississippi. I feel that either Mississippi and Louisiana will fully consider the new I-14, it does connect other large southeast city metro areas with a east-west direction to ease off I-10 or I-20. But I-69 can help with new ease of logistic international traffic, into here the United States and onto World Trade. Hopefully I-69 may happen. Great video!
I thought of something similar to this - if LA is broke and has other projects preventing I-69, what if 69 followed the proposed spur route in TX up towards Texarkana and then cut into AR more or less along the current US-82 route? If AR/the US were able to help fund the MS River bridge, I agree that both states would see a massive benefit to increased traffic through those areas. Last spring I drove from KS City to Hattiesburg MS, and that stretch from Pine Bluff AR to Jackson MS was one of the poorest and most depressing areas i've ever traveled through, but the MS Delta is also one of the most culturally important regions in the Southern US (especially for a jazz musician like me!)
These states can pay for them. They can issue bonds and build and improve them. Feds don’t have $$ to spend on new freeways. Red states won’t allow to raise the taxes on gas and diesel and they should pay for these improvements using their own budgets.
For 30 years, I've taken it from Detroit to Ft. Wayne and Indy. Always wondered why it was even there. Never any traffic. So, thanks!
That being said, if the idea was an international corridor (Mexico-U.S.-Canada), viewers should know that The #1 truck crossing spot in the U.S. is Detroit-Windsor. And that's not going to change anytime soon with the opening of the brand new Gordie Howe Bridge next year.
The Blue Water Bridge at Port Huron-Sarnia just can't compete. So I-69 will remain our private little scenic interstate.
Thank you I was not aware, and it was very informative.
Always great videos man, hope the channels "borrowing" your ideas and info will give due credit and lead more people to the channel. This one is extra interesting being an Indiana resident, hoping I can drive a straight shot down to the border within my lifetime!
University of Indiana. WTH?
On another note, I grew up in SW Indiana and we've been talking about this highway since the '80s. Mitch Daniels was the governor who finally figured out how to pay for it by selling the Indiana Tollway. Indianapolis is doing a ton of work right now to upgrade I465, complete the south approach to I465, and upgrade the northern approach to I465. When the road was completed to Bloomington, I cut a half hour off my trip to Jasper, Indiana.
I live in Madisonville Kentucky along I-69. The bypass around Henderson between Madisonville and Evansville will be greatly appreciated. Many of us in west KY shop/dine in Evansville and going through Henderson is a big bottleneck. It is also my understanding the many travel to the Casinos in Evansville. I can see Madisonville benefiting from this as many new commercial building are currently under construction or planned. Also the roads between I-69 and factories like GE and Land-O-Frost are being expanded to a 4 lane.
Really enjoyed the video sir. Thank you.
great video Mike I really love the pace and information you share. I have revealed most of the routes you have featured and your vids really capture their relevance. Thanks for doing these
Awesome, thank you!
You mention a lot of "unsigned" portions of I-69. As someone who travels it in Michigan somewhat regularly, it can appear unsigned at times even here. Plenty of random empty signposts, though. Wonder why that could be...🤔
I'm a civil engineer who designed highways much of the early part of my career (8 years, 1984 - 1992), then other modes (airports, rail, port, bus, etc). I never knew there were alpha letter designations for interstates (as in TX I-69E, etc). All too familiar with the standards (odd N/S, even E/W, even 100's = beltways, odd 100's = spurs). I don't know of any other place I've ever seen A/B/C/E/W etc affixed after a 2 digit interstate designation. Interesting. Things are always bigger in TX.
I-35 has two points where it splits into 35W and 35E - one in DFW TX, where 35W goes through Ft Worth and 35E goes through Dallas, and one where I live in MN, where 35W goes through Minneapolis and 35E goes through St Paul. Both of those keep the E/W split within the same metro area though, so this whole 69E/C/W split across a wide swath of S TX is definitely a different animal!
The C isn't part of a simple A/B/C identification system. It is a locational designation in relation to the rest of the road. E/C/W. East/Central/West. Might be Center instead of Central, but you get the idea. The C designation is for its relative location rather than just simply having a unique identifier.
@@RealzFoSho Yeah as an actual highway engineer I shoulda noticed that detail - thanx!!!!!
@@RealzFoSho I never realized that the 100's series are reused in different states - there's an I-291 here in CT near Hartford, another one 40 miles north in MA near Springfield MA.
An Amusing anecdote - a directionally challenged millennial from Philly I'd told how to get home from CT to Philly - I said "just follow I-95 all the way", well, in Westchester NY 95 splits w/I-295 which takes the Throgs Neck Bridge to Long Island - they followed this, as they thought it was the same I-295 they were familiar with in NJ across from Philly. I got a panicked phone call from Long Island at work & had to navigate them to the Verrazzano Bridge, much to the amusement of my office neighbors.
A highly informative and in-depth presentation; Enjoyed It immensely!
Thanks for the video. They say roads can tell stories and it can tell a good portion of my own. I've lived in Texas off of 59 southeast of Houston. My Grandfather lived his latter years near McAllen. I spent 2 months in a hotel room building a business location at Madisonville, KY with it being the Pennyrile Parkway at the time ( although it was being converted to I-69 while I was there.
There is still one road that needs made, "superhighway" or not...
And that's something interstate grade connecting Cincinnati to the other side of the Appalachian mountains a little closer to Charlotte and the south. Basically finish I73 or I74.
I've traveled quite a bit of the existing I 69 and agree the portion concurrent with I 96 is pretty strange.
Another spot that will be really odd is Lufkin TX. in that town I 69 and US 69 will cross. From what I understand about the proposed alignment, the two will even be concurrent for a few miles.
You mentioned exactly what I was thinking. I live in Austin and I would LOVE for I69 to be fully built. Crazy to think that basically all trucks from Mexico to Canada (and all cities in between) come right through downtown Austin. Unfortunately most don’t take 130 and it’s 85 mph since it is a very expensive tollway. 😔
Thank you for this well thought out video. I live in NWLA and would love to see I-69 provide access to our area. Hopefully the state will one day make it a priority!