Born in Toronto and raised in Grand Rapids, Michigan, I had no idea there were even issues with I69. It's been complete as long as I've paid any attention to driving anywhere and I use it when I visit family in the old country. I was never an infrastructure nerd before, but this video might be my gateway into that whole world.
Keep the highways, America needs highspeed bullet trains and maglev super train technology. We need more alternatives to walking, driving or flying. With a maglev super train in the northeast corridor, you can board in Washington DC and be in your office in New York city in an hour or less. Try that in your beloved cars or on the slow and lethargic American trains called Amtrak. We are the mighty United States of America, what in the hell are you waiting for? Highspeed bullet trains and maglev super train technology is the new American dream....
Trains are a waste of money. Amtrak is a joke, it’s actually faster to drive. A high speed train will have few riders and cost the taxpayers an absurd amount of cash.
@@someguy23475 Haaaa, ha, ha haaaa, lol!!! Spoken like a true American. Money? Wanna talk money? It cost 10 billion dollars to put a man on the moon to jump around and pick up rocks, it cost 10 billion dollars to put the James web telescope into space, the United States of America spent 200 billion dollars on the space shuttle program, now where's the space shuttle at now? 50 billion on the international space station, think they'll let you go up to visit? Ok we won't talk about the billions of dollars America is about to spend to put some fool on mars. During the pandemic, the us sent all that money out to America in stimulus packages costing a wopping 14 trillion. Now the United States can obtain a maglev super train system from Japan for the northeast corridor for 65 billion dollars. The US hasn't done a mega project since the Hoover dam. Japan even offered to contribute 5 billion dollars for the building of this modern marvel. When completed, the new USA Maglev super train will run from Washington DC to Boston stopping in Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York city. Traveling at speeds of up to 375 mph, you can board in Washington DC and be in your office in New York city in an hour or less. Yeah try that in your beloved cars or on the slow and lethargic American trains called Amtrak. For a country and people so damn gong ho on technology to the point that they have no problems giving up their personal information, Im very surprised they don't except real technology Now this technological advancement, and note i said, ADVANCEMENT, You would be improving infrastructure 60 percent if not more. This would benefit all people and not just a certain few selected from the science community. And you think no one would ride it? Here's some wisdom, Never think or assume because you always end up being wrong at the end of the day. Go to You Tube, tap on the Japanese maglev train and watch. Read some of the comments other than mine. So much for costs....
I agree the space program is a waste and I was against all of the stimulus packages from day one. They were wasteful and only made things worse. That being said why throw away more money. People in the US love their cars. This isn’t Japan.
They could skip Louisiana and Mississippi and when the federal funding does,come it will probably mostly be given to Arkansas so 2045 2044 2046 probably
I drive most of the 69 in Texas. I've watched them build a lot of it for many years. I think the 3 spurs to the valley are a great idea. Yes, I want all of I-69 in Texas no matter what other states build. It is great infrastructure for South and East Texas.
I live here in Indiana . Yeah that was a tough fight. They wanted to use the most accessible land . But it was the most accessible because it was state owned and had been protected from the very beginning of our state. As far as I can tell we tricked congress into paying for our sewer project in full then we used that money to build roads. They are currently building something that easily looks like highway standard along 37. The hardest route to take in terms of having to buy out properties . But it really looks like the gap is shrinking down to southport road and the intersection outside the city. Outside the city its clean sailing.
Cut right on into highway 37 here in Bloomington, took out dozens of roads and added tons of work around. In some ways I appreciate I-69, in others I despise it. Made travel in Bloomington a bitch for a LONG time
As a Mississippian, the biggest draw that I-69 has for the state is the influx of travelers and their money going through The Delta region (the poorest part of the state). Unfortunately, I fear that also may be it’s biggest drawback for the state in terms of funding when there are projects like the highway between Jackson and Biloxi that goes through the more populated parts of Mississippi (where I live). It’s truly a shame, The Delta has so much culture and neat little areas.
I agree. I live in NE Louisiana and was thrilled when Miss completed 4-laning US 61 from Leland (Greenville) north to Memphis. Cut almost an hour off my trip rather than drive through each little town. Problem is there are few exits to take you into a town to visit a favorite restaurant I found previously or activity site (like Blues Museum). I'm concerned there will be even fewer exits on I-69 and basically bypass all of the Delta Region except for a turnpike stop like they have up North.
I grew up near I 69 in Mid Michigan just outside of Lansing. All my childhood it was known as TEMPORARY 1-69. Sometime during my military career in the mid 80's to early 90's, it transitioned to I 69 and became a legit expressway. My dad use to always complain about how long it took just to make our section. I had no idea how far this was suppose to go. Based on what I experienced, this should be complete around 2120.
@@forrrrestjohncave Is that what you think? Cost? The United States of America spent 10 billion dollars to put a man on the moon to jump around and pick up rocks. Think you could go? America spent 11 billion dollars to put the James web telescope into space. Think they'll let you use it? The mighty United States of America spent 200 billion dollars on the space shuttle program. Well where's the space shuttle at now? America spent 50 billion dollars on the international space station. Well hay!!! Lets go up together and visit! Wanna talk about cost? Ok we wount talk about the billions of dollars the United States of America is about to spend to put some fool on mars. If the United States of America can do all that, they can build a maglev super train. It will cost 65 billion dollars to obtain the maglev system from Japan for the northeast corridor. Japan even offered to contribute 5 billion dollars towards the mega project. When completed this train will travel at speeds of up to 375 mph. You think they'll let you ride? Well ofcourse you can! This will benefit all americans and not just a small few selected from the science community. Washington DC to new York in an hour or less. Try that in your beloved cars or on the slow and lethargic American trains called Amtrak. Oh yeah one major cost. The United States government gave away money to each American in stimulus packages costing 14 trillion dollars. Right now the United States is giving billions away to Ukraine to fight their war. Any questions about cost? Highspeed bullet trains and maglev super train technology, the new American dream....
As someone who lived in West TN for the first 36 years of my life, THANK YOU for bringing up the bridges in Memphis (the Hernando de Soto was shut down for months for a huge crack a couple of years ago) and the fact that political leadership have fought infrastructure funding. One other political issue in TN is that Middle and East TN have routinely been prioritized over West TN for state spending for decades, and I truly believe if this project had been planned to go through other sections of the state originally, it would've been finished 20 years ago. One thing that gives me hope it will be completed *before* the 2040s is that there has been a ton of manufacturing and warehousing investment since I-269 was completed, both in north Mississippi and all along the I-69/269 corridor in Tennessee.
Pissed me off how the world changes at the Tennessee River. I'd wish folks in Jackson, Memphis, Brownsville, and Union City would cry racism over the disparities in state funding. Litterally whether you cross in Paris, Camden, or Decaturville the difference is night and day in all the infrastructure.
I remember moving to Houston in 1999 and seeing "Future I-69 Corridor" signs on US 59 through Sugar Land. Having family in Memphis, I couldn't wait for it to be finished. Decades later, and now living in Austin, I'm still waiting, but have no use for it anymore.
That reminds me of the bypass around Nashville (840). I couldn't wait to use it to travel home from the far western tip of Kentucky to Huntsville, Alabama but the south western part was built later and I wasn't living there anymore by the time it was built. I still am waiting for 840 to be completed though. I believe it was supposed to be a full circle.
@@MarcBookPro I lived by and worked at the Tesla project the last year and a half, I can say I-35 traffic is horrid through downtown but I too had no reason to go into that absolute dump of an area. I stayed on the 130 side of Austin but there is absolutely nothing out there yet. I'm back home in Houston and have no plans to go back over there anytime soon lol
Before I retired from the Arkansas Geological Survey in 2013, in the early 2000s, I was one of two staff geologists to be involved with the planning for the I-69 corridor through Arkansas, with the at that time AHTD (now ArDOT), Arkansas Environmental Agency, and several other concerned agencies, both public and private. I went to every public meeting to hear citizen's input, along with numerous planning committee meetings. Glad to see the progress on this in other states and I never figured it would be completed in Arkansas in my lifetime. One thing you left out, there has been built in Arkansas a connecting 4 lane highway from Pine Bluff to the proposed I-69 junction. This was built a few years back because the construction design of super highway concrete requires rock that is not available in SE Arkansas, so it will need to be brought in from quarries near Little Rock.
As a resident of Indianapolis for 4 years, I have been seeing changes on the interstate that have been drastic for sure. I still remember when I lived in Princeton (in southwestern Indiana 30 minutes north of Evansville) whenever I-69 used to just have a small portion open up and whenever by I-64 it used to be I-164 in Evansville. I believe it was around 2006 whenever they first started the construction here and they were supposed to have completed it in 2018 but it’s been delayed so much that now it’s supposed to finish in 2025 (the section from Evansville to Indianapolis, not including the new bridge in Evansville)
@@MileageMikeTravels No, I actually was born in Phoenix and lived there until I was 6. Then I moved to Indiana afterwards and have lived in this state ever since. I’ve actually never visited California before
Indiana resident here. Grew up in Evansville and an Indy resident for 40 years. I-69 got behind schedule where it goes thru Bloomington because of fierce opposition to it. Once they relented Mike Pence hired a company from Spain who had never built an interstate in the U.S. to do the job. It was a fiasco. Put construction back by three years. New governor fired the Spanish company and had INDOT finish that segment up to Martinsville. Projected completion is now end of 2024. Currently working on widening I-465 on the south side of Indy and building the interchange where I-69 will come in. Marking decent progress in Johnson County just south of Indy.
I’ll be glad when they get the new Ohio river bridge done. I work in Princeton, IN and live in Henderson county Kentucky. That way I won’t have to go through the stop lights in Henderson anymore.
I have been driving on I-69 in my state of Indiana often for nearly 50 years now. I have completely driven both north and south bound between I-465 in Indianapolis and the Michigan state line over and over again throughout the last 5 decades. Most of my trips on 69 were between Indianapolis and the Indiana Toll Road/ Ohio Turnpike. As I traveled to Toledo, Ohio to visit family on holidays. I have experienced many changes to the highway as it has gone through modifications and redesign throughout those years, I was even involved in some of that redesign work, while working for consulting engineering firms for half of my career.
Great video! You are spot on re Louisiana priorities. Anyone who has ever driven I20 from Jackson MS to Shreveport and also traveled I10 from Slidell to Lake Charles, knows how desperate money is needed to re-pave those critical stretches across the northern and southern corridors of the state!
I grew up with I-69 in my backyard in Fort Wayne and the unbuilt piece in Indianapolis. During the early 70s, I-465 was only about half complete, and 69's northern terminus was M78 (current Lansing Rd) in Charlotte, Michigan.
Great video, thank you Mileage Mike! Yes, Texas is committed to great roads, we’re pioneers in double decking a few freeway segments, with good foresight. Keep on truckin!
Piecemeal, I have driven many times on the entire stretch of I-69 from Port Huron to Indianapolis plus throughout Houston when I was visiting there. This includes during the 80s while it was being converted from its designation of TEMP I-69 (Former M-78) as it was slowly converted from a divided highway to full Interstate standard from Charlotte to Flint and also what originally was the M-21 freeway from Flint to Port Huron which one day got replaced with an interstate shield in 1984.
Michigander here. I driven I-69 plenty times across the state. I-69 is also our designated High/Wide route for dimensional loads that don't fit clearances going through the Metro Detroit area on I-94.
@@ronaldfulton1175 Lol!!! Yes, i agree. From Washington DC to new York in an hour or less are the trains that would turn profit. But in advanced countries of the far east, they have great infrastructure that sorry to say, supersedes the United States of America. Im not exactly sure how or what they're doing right but i do know, to travel on their trains their citizens pay a very inexpensive rate. Infact it compares to about 15 dollars in American currency. Over there it's about superb infrastructure and making it easy for living. The United States of America wouldn't make life that smooth for their citizens because of it's greedy attribute. America dosent care about Americans or the American government would see to everyone living in a home and know one would be hungry. The United States of America would rather spend the 200 billion dollars on the space shuttle program. Now how does that help the American people? How does that help the hungry and really, where's the space shuttle at now? If the US would have taken that 200 billion dollars back in the early 80s and build bullet, you might just be on your way home from work right now from your work sight in the next state over. At great speeds. Once you get to the station then you get in your car, stop and get dinner for the family and head home. This would have and should have been done decades ago. We're not going to talk about the billions of dollars the United States of America is about to spend to put some fool on mars. After that, America's infrastructure is still the same and so is it's problems with hunger and homelessness.
I recently learned of I-69’s existence on a road trip from Kansas City to Brownsville Texas (then onwards to Mexico). I’m used to traveling US-69, Kansas. Once I came upon I-69E south of San Antonio, I found it charming seeing the US change to Interstate. I also think it’s confusing seeing a US-69 as well as an I-69 interchange in Texas…
Here in Texas, US 69 and I-69 are clearly distinguishable from each other. The only place that the designations will be an issue is around Lufkin, where US 59 and US 69 merge for a few miles via East Loop 287 (which is almost a freeway except for all the driveways). Aside from that, the two highways take clearly different routes through Texas. US 69 goes from Sherman to Beaumont/Port Arthur while the future I-69 will hit Louisiana somewhere around Logansport and goes southwest through Houston all the way down to Victoria, where it splits into 69E (present-day US 77) and 69W (present-day US 59). The latter of these branches splits off into 69C which follows present-day US 281 south.
I live maybe 2 miles off of I 69 in Southern Michigan. It's been a part of my life for 39 years. I'm glad MI has and continues to rebuild i69 as 25 years ago it was rough. Though I wish i69 went through Troy, MI.. such an opportunity missed as i75 has an exit of 69 at big beaver road.. yes I'm immature deal with it.
Lol I lived 30 miles north of Evansville Indiana from 2004-2010 for college, rumors started on I-69 by our small college town about 06 and i remember a lot of controversy between the farm land, coal areas and rivers/creeks. I remember construction a little by the end, we never thought it'd actually happen with the ongoing controversy, I moved after college and forgot about it until a few days ago while on Google maps and was surprised it actually got done. There was so much controversy on I-69 in general south of Indy I'm surprised anything got built.
I live near the Michigan portion of 69. I had no idea it is planned to be such a vast interstate. I just knew it went down to Indianapolis. It will be really cool to see it complete. I think it could lead to a lot of growth because it seems like the perfect way to link the two borders. I hope it gets done soon!
If you're in Indiana, y'all's portion of I-69 is practically done already. Only a few miles left to cover for some minor spots around Evansville and the southern part of Indianapolis. Here in Houston, TX, I-69 is officially a thing. All of US 59 within a 45-50 mile radius of Houston (on both sides) is either designated as I-69 or meets the criteria to be designated as such. Currently, it's a continuous interstate from Cleveland to the Ft. Bend/Wharton County line at the San Bernard River bridge, with yet more extensions along the way on both ends.
I've had a 40-year relationship with I-69. I was an engineering co-op student in the early 1980's and school was in Flint, Michigan while my work assignments were in Indianapolis. Every 3 months I moved between the two cities. I thought it was really cool that there was an Interstate built specifically so I could do that. In the present time I still travel I-69 on my daily commutes. I can sadly confirm that there is a 12-mile construction zone from MM153 to MM165. Westbound lanes have been thoroughly torn up down to the dirt and new concrete road built. Don't know if the rebuilt lanes will be open before the snow flies. Another fun fact about I-69 is that it's the only Interstate that changes direction designation. When it reaches northwest Lansing, it changes from North-South to East-West. So it is an odd-numbered Interstate that is exception to the rule of being North-South.
I’m from Shreveport and the big gripe is that I-49 hasn’t been connected. I don’t see an I-69 anytime soon and this is the first time I’ve ever heard of it so that’s pretty cool. I’m hopeful but this state has shown it favors the shouthern portion so we will be chilling for 30 years in the meantime
I used to haul automotive parts to and from northwest Ohio thru Indiana and this interstate was long long overdue !! In the 1950s it took just three years to build the Indiana Toll Road (157 miles) but now it takes two years just to build a simple highway overpass.
Thank you for the throughout report. We can't wait for I-69/I-369 to be completed. It's sad (and telling) to know that most of the Interstate system was built in less than 10 years, but it's taken DECADES to to build a fraction of one Interstate highway.
In the past it was just getting built and nobody would be considering/nagging about anything. Luckily we know better now, taking into consideration people's health and environmental problems that they (can) cause. Unless you want to live in a world similar to heavy populated china, where they have to pollinate by hand because all natural pollinators have died off, you must take care of the world around you.
They were still building out the interstates during the 70's and 80's. I used tour the US on my motorcycle back then when it was common to travel along a new two lane highway that was built alongside the original highway. Once completed, all traffic was directed onto it so they could rework the old road. Also was common to come to the end of an interstate where all traffic was directed onto an improved 2 lane rural road that bypassed the road construction for 35 to 45 miles only to have another bypass to slowdown traffic after traveling another 35 to 45 miles.
Actually, the Interstate highway construction started in 1956 when the Interstate highway bill was passed and it was actually at the time expected to be complete in 15 years. However it wasn't declared complete until 1992, so really it took like 36 years to complete the Interstate highway system.
When I was still a child, I remember when I-69 was still under construction in Michigan. It used to stop at M-15 in Davision. A few years later the freeway opened up 10 miles to M-24 in Lapeer. Currently I-69 is being rebuilt between Flint and Davision, it's been going on for a few years now. Can't believe it's been around 50 years already since it was first built.
I can't believe I-69 project was that old. 50 years ago was 1972 and Louisiana was still building I-10 from Lake Charles to Lafayette. I thought the Interstates ending in 0 and 5 took precedence and would be built first since they were the major E-W & N-S routes. First I heard of I-69 was in the early 1990's when I lived in Texarkana in planning stages (to parallel US 59). Never dreamed parts were already complete in Indiana and Michigan.
My daily commute takes me up the construction zone between Indianapolis and Martinsville. Part of the I-69 project includes widening I-465 between I-65 & I-70 on the south side. It also includes rebuilding nearly all overpass bridges from scratch as well as mainline bridges from scratch. However over the course of 2022, they have finished nearly all of the overpasses. So I have no doubt that the work will be done by the end of 2024. And I am hopeful it shortens my commute by the 11 minutes they predict. Anyways, I love seeing your videos about our infrastructure, it is always interesting to hear someone else talk about the roads we drive on everyday.
It's so much easier to get to Bloomington Indiana from Indianapolis than it was even a year ago. They're making progress every month, which is more than I can say about the north split progress.
@@lakerskid2013 ¡Muchas Garcia! My 1st CDL employer wuz in Daleville jest a li'l N. Luv'd duh bars up N.: tall highbacked booths + they usually served meals. And the pool halls... both allowed folks 2 bring their kids... which a Lot would disagree w/.
A couple of weeks ago I needed to drive from Nashville to Detroit. Normally drive up to Louisville via I-65 and then switch to I-71 thorough Cincinnati. Then I-75 north to Detroit. However, with all the heavy traffic along that route, I decided to attempt I-69 as the only major city it passes thorough is Indianapolis (until you reach Toledo via US 24). I-69 was a much more pleasant drive with lower traffic counts than my normal route. State Road 37 in Indiana is currently being upgraded to be I-69 south of Indianapolis. There is also major construction on I-465 to widen it from the northern I-69 interchange along the east side of Indianapolis. And, if Google Maps are to be believed, using I-69 only took me 30 minutes longer than using my normal route.
You might also use US-24 and US-23 for the Fort Wayne-Ann Arbor stretch, as US-24 just got upgraded to Limited Access in Ohio/Indiana, it should cut down that 30 mins.
@@bryanvogt3371 Yes, I used US 24 from I-469 in Ft. Wayne to Toledo. Some of US 24 in Ohio is still just 4 laned with at-grade crossings, but no traffic signals. If Ohio could get all of US 24 up to interstate style standards, it would be fantastic.
I’ve driven many segments of now and future I-69, including through Houston during Tropical Storm Imelda in 2019. Drove I-69 NE as knew I-10 in TX and LA was getting pummeled with rains and wind. Then continued on US-59 to I-20 East. Finally outran the storm past Shreveport! Houston had bad flooding! Also driven the new segment from Evansville, IN up to yet-completed Indianapolis. Curvy as it snakes around farms. Canadian truckers will rejoice once I-69 is completed!
I've driven most parts of I-69 in Michigan and Indiana. I remember when it still went through, not around, Lansing. What a nightmare. I hope they complete the upgrade between Indy and Bloomington soon. SR-37 is a badly outdated cow path and needs a limited-access replacement, much like US30 across the northern part of Indiana.
As a resident of Flint MI and through the '80s and 90's a frequent visitor of LansingP.H. I enjoyed watching the entire construction process of E/W bound i69.. Even today, I'm known to point out to friends as we pass remains of former temporary connections, cement plants and a few now removed rest areas. By the time the orange cone season ends here (as the snow flies) i69 will be completing a 3+year rebuild through it's 4+mile Flint RoW- MUCH to the great relief of locals and passers-by.
Bro.... wow! So much info and details! I always wondered about I69. I never thought it was that big of a project. I appreciate all the research that you did for the details of this highway regarding the obstacles and such. I hope to be able to see it completed.
I've been working in various fields of construction for 25 years and highway construction is one of them. Everyone always questions and compains about how long these projects take and I have seen first hand that it can be summed in two parts, one is the obvious politics, but the lesser known factor is ridiculously overzealous safety policies fueled by ambulance chasing lawyers. On the surface having those policies seems like a no brainer and for the most part safety is a good thing, but it's gone past a tipping point where too much of it is actually useless and does nothing but restrict productivity. There's too much to get into here, but overzealous safety procedures turn a simple 5 minute task into more than an hour, now multiply this by how much work goes in to these projects and you'll start to understand why a road project that could be completed in 2 years will actually take 5 to 10 years
NIce video! I have been watching the progress of I-69 for years. I have lived in Michigan, Arkansas, and most of all in Indiana. And I am a road designer. While I think a new highway thru rural Mississippi, Arkansas, and NW Louisiana could help these areas along the route. I also think it is kind of crazy that with a Texarkana extension, and going thru Memphis, that this whole section doesn't get nixed in favor of using I-40 and I-30. Honestly, it would probably be better if they build the Mississippi bridge near Tunica and tied into I-40 near Forrest City Arkansas. I do agree with your statement about having a bridge north of Memphis too, that likely ties into I-555. And that the downtown interstate crossing are not very good at serving the interstate system. But more overwhelmed by metro traffic. Anyway, both or either location would help there more than a bridge in the middle of nowhere I think. Another thing I think that is interesting. Which you didn't really discuss, but was visible on one of your maps. I do find it a bit strange that Indiana is in with Kentucky half on the Ohio River bridge near Evansville. Oddly both sides of the river where the bridge is to cross are technically Kentucky, because of a weird state line anomaly there. If you ever drive down US 41 there. There is definitely a point made that you cross into Kentucky on the north side of the river, and that racetrack there is in Kentucky. I guess if Indiana wants it done, they gotta chip in...
As a trucker from Memphis, I have to disagree on the use of I-30/40. I-30 has heavy traffic and I-40 has been obsolete for years. I-40 between Memphis and Little Rock should have been three laned years ago (as well as Memphis to Nashville). I agree with you on the bridge north of Memphis, and it should join the southern terminus of I-555. to TN385/I-469. I-30 and I-40 , for truckers, aren't just east-west routes, they're also north-south. Tons of freight moves between Texas and Chicago, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and the Northeast. .If you're moving between these places, I-30 and I-40 are the only way to get to I-55, 57, 65, 75, 81, and 95 from (or toward) Texas Since I'm on my soapbox, I'll share another gripe, since you're a "road designer", you mentioned it and this was discussed in the video. It is not ok to run different highways along the same alignment. I understand it is necessary on occasion, due to geography, however it should be avoided as much as possible. We need alternate routes. We need alternate routes. We need alternate routes. In case you're hard of reading, we need alternate routes. For those times when the DOT decides to patch potholes in daytime traffic, or rearrange the reflectors in the road, or whatever the hell they are doing in daytime traffic, that could be done at night. Or, in case they miss a giant crack on a bridge crossing a major river and have to close the freaking thing for months, and the DOTs in two states are so incompetent, they can't figure out how to move traffic through, and trying to move traffic through, they actually make things even worse. I'm just pointing out, we need alternate routes. Terrorists could plant one well positioned bomb and shut down our entire country, because there is only ONE WAY to get somewhere. Stop doing that. It's stupid. /rant This video confirmed my suspicions I-69 will never be finished in my lifetime.
@@NadaEspamo I agree 40 between North Little Rock and Memphis should have been upgraded to 3 lanes decades ago. If you're unaware, there is now plans to extend I-57 down to North Little Rock. Along the planned path, all but 15 miles or so of the Missouri portion is already a divided highway. All except the last 30 miles or so of the Arkansas portion near the Missouri state line is already completed as US67 which built to interstate standards between North Little Rock and Walnut Ridge. Also, the addition bridge across the Mississippi River to the end of I-555 is a great idea. There's likely quite a bit of traffic from Jonesboro and other parts of Northeastern Arkansas along with North Central Arkansas and South Central Missouri that use the 40/55 bridges with Memphis as their destination. I wouldn't mind seeing an extension of I-22 along that route as well. It could even follow the US 63 and US 60 corridors up to Springfield, Missouri or even westward to Wichita. I'm not a trucker nor a resident of the Springfield area but it would seem like it would be a popular area for manufactures and logistical companies. The geographic center of the United States' population has been fairly close to Springfield for a few decades now and it's drifting towards Springfield. An eastward extension of 22 from Birmingham thru (or near) Auburn Alabama, Columbus, Albany, and Valdosta Georgia would be neat to funnel traffic into Florida but I doubt either one of us would ever get to use it.
@@booboo8706 I know about the plan for I--57. That will take a lot of truck traffic off of I-40. I agree, I-22 should continue up the US 63 route and across to Springfield /Wichita. I run regionally out of Memphis and use it frequently. I agree about running 22 southeast out of Birmingham, as well. I have run that many times. The only viable way to Florida from Memphis is 55 to Jackson and US 49 to Mobile, then across I-10. Running out of Jackson on US 49 is stop and go traffic, as well as from the Alabama line to Mobile. In between is pretty good road. I would also add continuing I- 74 from Mt. Airy, NC to Indianapolis. The Appalachians and Ozarks are big bottlenecks. Completing freeways in these areas would benefit travelers, as well as bring needed jobs in the more remote areas. Like you, I don't think we will live to ever use them. But, it's what needs to happen for the future. The biggest holdup in my mind, is Arkansas. Unless Congress earmarks a huge chunk of cash for Interstate expansion in that area, it will be many decades before it gets done.
Politicians at the time tried to have I-69 go through Louisiana, but Clinton was President in the 90's, and so it was routed almost parallel to I-40/I-30 in Arkansas, and only going through the NW corner of Louisiana, practically bypassing the state.
I was raised here in Michigan right up the road from I-69. When I was young, the portion near our home used to be a divided highway between Perry Michigan all the way into Lansing. Lansing Road follows I-69 from Perry all the way to Haslett and this would have been the former east bound lanes when it was still a divided highway. You can still see the scars in some spots where the west bound lanes were and that was removed at least 30 years ago through there.
I remember seeing the signage changes in Houston. There wasnt much actual construction in Houston itself, but 59 got repaved going from Sugar Land to Richmond/Rosenburg, and I imagine it'll get repaved all the way to Victoria. The stretches in south TX should be pretty easy cause theyre already 4 lane divided highways, only need to build a few bypasses that goes around some town like in Freer, Goliad, Flafurrias and George West.
I drive up and down 59 all the time. I can tell you that going down towards Victoria from Houston, there is PLENTY of construction especially currently in Wharton County. Past Jackson county, they likely won't need to do too much, but it's still a ways from completion.
@@zanec1780 That's because construction is being done by incremental segments. Those signs exist because the road either is being upgraded or is yet to be so.
@@ColeM40 It's not just the connections to Victoria, but all the South Texas branches, and also, much work still to be done in East Texas. As it stands, I-69E between Corpus and Brownsville in its entirety is expected to have substantial completion by 2032 at the earliest. That's huge.
Drove on I69 yesterday, from north of Humble Tx to Cleveland, Tx - at which point it is US 59, and not a wonderful highway in several spots between Cleveland and Lufkin, as far as I need to travel for work. There will have to be a bit of property acquisition and lots of overpasses built to make 59 -I69 a limited access freeway in that stretch.
The real problem is the sprawl thats been created from Houston to small towns that didn't "exist " before and ruining alotta the areas identity due to the vacuum of progress
I have driven parts of I 69 in Kentucky and the parts in Indiana. It is good to see more it being built this year as compared to last year when I traveled from Evansville to Indianapolis on I 69. It is looking good by Bloomington where Indiana University is.
There are the following auxiliary routes of I-69, and they are: Indiana: I-469 in Fort Wayne. Kentucky: I-169 between Nortonville and Hopkinsville, I-369 between Henderson and Owensboro, and I-569 between Nortonville and Elizabethtown. Tennessee: I-169, north of Memphis, and I-269 to bypass Memphis as well as northwestern Mississippi. Mississippi: I-269. Arkansas: N/A. Louisiana: N/A. And Texas: I-169 in Brownsville, and I-369 in Texarkana Texas.
I predict pressure on Tennessee, Arkansas, and Louisiana to complete I-69 so that the investments in the other states can have maximal return. This would provide a great opportunity for seafood, beef, cotton, soybeans and energy from the U.S. Gulf Coast and Mid Southto be traded to the Canadians cost effectively.
Can't wait for this to be done. Going to drive on it for 69 miles, at 69mph, with the A/C set to 69F, getting 6.9 mpg thus performing the ultimate "nice"!
In Indy, the “ghost ramps” you showed, after like 25 years in existence, are actually no more. We are currently in construction for the new 65/70 split. It is on schedule to be completed later this winter. If you look at the progress, they completely redesigned the ramp and finally changed it from the original plan which included turning Binford Ave into a section of 69. The main opposition came from the neighborhoods that would be effected just south of the Indiana state fairgrounds and connect to the 65/70 split. The new design used 465 to connect the southern portion of 69 to the northern section. The new southern section ramp is also in construction and hopefully, the final two phases which include the new on ramp will be completed by 2022 because it’s been a mess the last year or so. On my channel, I have a short video clip of the 65/70 split construction from a few months ago.
the new outer loop in the future will change the trafic on 465 loop i 69 south on inianapolis is not going to be finished any time soon because of the exsiting nature preserves they want to destroy so talk is that the new loop will be the only way i 69 will be connected around the city as of right now the crossroads of america are to conjested and need to be compleatly rebuilt so the best thing would be the new outer loop to rerout the trafic around 465 loop it was to start on the east side to connect from i 69 north to i 69 south then finish the west and north side last
@@kenmiller5954 you mean the changes they’ll make to the section of 465 that will connect i69 north to south? If so yeah I agree it will need changes. There will always be construction, honestly there should be way more infrastructure projects taking place in every state. In every state we should be planning and implementing the money just allotted in the infrastructure bill Biden passed. I won’t go into politics as I’ve recently taken an interest in roadway construction projects and that’s what this video is. Im not sure if you’re from Indy but im excited to see the new split n hope that will also help divert some of that traffic and be an alternative route for a big portion of the 69 connection
I-69 is always pleasurable for me. One of the biggest problems with 69 completion is you have to travel slowly & properly. I've found that I-69 will never be completed if you try to plow in & motor through too quickly. You also need to take little detours to the areas around 69 like the forest, if there is one, and the tunnel. There are certainly areas of 69 that are more stimulating than others, but that in no way means that I-69 isn't enjoyable during the entire undertaking. By paying attention to the details, you will find that I-69 will be completed much more quickly than perhaps you initially anticipated! So quickly, in my experience, that after a little break and a nice cocktail, you'll very likely be ready for a reverse trip down 69! Most of all, just relax & enjoy I-69.
OK, that was just awesome. You know, I wonder, in all the time its taking to build this highway, if they have figured out a way to keep college frat boys from stealing the signs. Because we all know that's going to happen.
Born in Michigan now live in the south. Issues like civic projects were tought in school. Not in the south. Money that comes into some states are looked upon as income for pople in power. Great Video.
I live an hour South of Indy in Martinsville that he mentions a couple of times . We've had to deal with the building of I69 for the last few years.. it completely changed our town by dropping probably a quarter of the businesses to the ground. The bridge pillars started getting pounded into at precisely 8:01 am everyday for a year. Could see your glass of tea shaking back and forth all day everyday including Sundays. I can throw a rock and hit the sound barrier wall and I have to say IT'S AWESOME. Getting up to 465 around Indy without any stoplights is a god send for us daily commuters. Definitely worth all the headaches!!
I-69 has made it all the way up to Marion county (indianapolis area) still under construction though and the work being done on 465 in preparation for it is rather drastic. All the bridges between 70 and 74 have been torn down and redone, they have a huge spance of land cleared out for the interchange already and theyre overhauling the interchange for 69 and 465 going to north as well
Well Bryce, I-69 has existed for 30 years between Indianapolis and Port Huron Michigan. But I am glad to see that it has made its way south of Bloomington into the great expanse of nothingness that is Southwestern Indiana.
I live in Charlotte, MI and we've been working on this job the last 2-3 years. By the end of next year from 94 to Charlotte should be relatively smooth. The concrete is being replaced with asphalt which seems odd to me since it typically doesn't last as long, especially in Michigan for whatever reason. Something interesting we've found during the concrete demolition phase of the project is sections of the road were poured with concrete using only pea stone instead of larger 3/4 stone that should have been used to make it stronger. This may have contributed to some areas premature failure. Much of the old concrete has been crushed and is being used as 23A for the new road bed. That is the concrete that did have the larger stone. The stuff made with pea stone is almost useless and they've had trouble giving it away from what I've heard. I suspect by the time we finish this project the next section to the north will need to be rebuilt.
I remember driving 69 from lansing to 94 and that stretch was always such a nightmare for bumps it felt like you were in a jet ski on a windy day which I thought was weird because it seemed like such an empty road relatively speaking. Interesting to know it was the road material that caused the issues.
@@Noman1000 that section on the north side of Lansing east of 96 will be done this year too. The stretch that was like riding a bull lol. I want to take a jar of whipping cream to work one of these days to see how it takes to turn to butter. I bet not more than a few hours. As for the wrong materials back when the road was built it would have been a cost cutting measure. The inspector either didn't notice or was persuaded somehow to look the other way.
Drive that road daily I would like to meet the moron who thought it would be a good idea to cut all the joints and fill with asphalt.....only in Michigan smfh
Asphalt is permeable and also flexible. Properly maintained with sealing and overlays it last a long time. Most places don't spend the time and money to mill the surface flat before repaving, the rollers can't get the correct compaction to make the asphalt strong. Potholes result. Big problem with concrete is pouring it on windy days and you get those waves. 😄
I remember when I-69 was being built between Lansing and I-94 in Michigan. Oddly, outside Lansing I-69 transitions from north/south to an east/west highway for the length to Port Huron.
That had me so confused when I was in Michigan. I couldnt understand why an odd number interstate was going east west. I didnt realize it went south to Indianapolis.
@@CMDRFandragon I thought Michigan was beautiful. I went to a town way up north on a lake. I dont remember the name but i think it was just right before you get to the upper pennisuala. It looked like a small European town.
El Dorado, AR ... I went to the annual El Dorado Music Festival a few years back. The guy on stage said "El Dorado" and a crowd of about three thousand people spoke in the most cosmically perfect unison ... "EL Doe RAY Doe." Dude took about two steps back, laughed, and said, "Man, I woke up in Denver. I don't where the hell I am." Best Concert Moment Ever!
You all should live here in Lansing, where I-69 and I-96 intersect and even share a few miles of road. Plus, I-69 has EASILY been the most ignored road around here and it's soooo rough in the right lane that most everyone avoids the right lane. We've watched numerous trailers disconnect from their trucks due to the conditions. Also, some sections south of Lansing have been closed during hotter days as the road separates since they used a lot of rubberizing compounds on cement roadbed. Finally, 5:11 - it's pronounced "shar-lot" even though it's spelled Charlotte.
I grew up in Arkansas and went to college along the I40 corridor. Made several trips to south Texas and the Florida panhandle over the years. I69 sure would have been useful to make the trips quicker to varying degrees!
Great video, Mike! I have been wondering what the status of I-69 was throughout the states. I don't however believe I'll be around to see it completed. 😄
Here in Tennessee from SF to Mayberry rd in UC is open westbound Mayberry rd to w reelfoot is under construction and currently there is no timetable for the troy bypass then Troy to dyersburg is open and that's all here that exists.
It is bad enough that I69 and I96 intersect in Lansing, MI. When MDOT replaced the signage, the sign shop transposed a sign that showed I69 as I96 and I96 as I69. Someone must have noticed at they fixed it. This area is nightmare for even slightly dyslexic people like me when they first encounter the interchanges. Battle Creek, MI - sometimes called erotic city, as it's half way between 69 & Climax, MI
I'm originally from Brownsville, Tx, I've seen major changes from Brownsville to Robstown,tx. one of the major problems in south texas is side stepping small towns that are along it's route from the Rio Grande valley to Houston tx.
I'm from the Victoria TX area. From Houston to Victoria is already an interstate. Victoria has set up for this split recently building a hwy loop that goes around and bypasses most of the city. Alot of the texas sections already have alot of the infrastructure they just need to make some changes and adjustments here and there. Victoria to Brownsville is hwy 77 and Victoria to Laredo is hwy 59. Both just need upgrades
@@bradywalton1357 yea I take i10....59 is cop city. Mainly because that 59 corridor is like the highest for trafficking drugs and stuff to and from Mexico so there's always cops along 59 ready to stop someone
It came through my hometown, Martinsville, Indiana last year and is under construction from here to Indianapolis. It's been a major headache and has been very heavy-handed in the way they have destroyed businesses and homes.
Yes, Martinsville is a mess with all this construction. I travel to the Florida panhandle and Alabama a lot. I live in plainfield, i am finding i69 more relaxing thur In and Ky over 65 in southern indiana. I 65 needs major upgrades as it carries too much traffic. Ofcourse is always a mess in Nashville.
I was raised in Pt. Huron, when I-69 building got started. It followed me to Lansing, when I went there for college. I moved to west Tennessee, and low and behold, I-69 has stalked me all the way here!
5:13 Charlotte, Michigan is pronounced "shar-LOT," not like the North Carolina city. Perhaps also of interest regarding Michigan I-69 is that it once carried US 27 from the Indiana state line (in fact, from the north end of Fort Wayne if we count the Indiana portion) to the northeast corner of Lansing, whereupon US 27 broke away to head north along what is now US 127 through St. Johns, Mount Pleasant, and Clare up to I-75 at Grayling. Indiana kind of wanted to get rid of US 27, and Michigan reluctantly went along with the plan, simply removing the 27 signs along the I-69 concurrency and replacing 27 with 127 from Lansing to Grayling.
(North Split Project) Speaking of the proposed I-69 portion that was supposed to run through downtown Indianapolis to the "North Split" of I-65/I-70, there was also another proposed alternative that was I-165 to 38th St but also had lots of public opposition and was scrapped. However, in the picture you can see the ramp studs of what would have been I-165/I-69. Currently that interchange is being reconstructed to improve safety since there were flaws that cause traffic to weave. Not to mention the North Split was originally designed to have a 4th leg (I-165/I-69) anyways. The new interchange is supposed to re-open in November but I personally feel like it will take until December before I-65/I-70 is re-opened. (I-69 Finish Line) Also I-69 between Martinsville and I-465 is over halfway done. The mainline construction should be mostly-finished up to Edgewood Avenue/SR 37 by the end of the year. The majority of the rest of the construction is building the new road that will split of SR 37 at Edgewood Avenue to accommodate the new I-465/I-69 interchange and to rebuild/widen the southwest leg of I-465 between I-70 and I-65 from six to eight lanes. The rest of the work will be the never-ending work of "finishing touches" in Morgan County, half of the mainline pavement in Johnson/Marion, and completion of the Smith Valley Road Interchange. All the other interchanges up to Edgewood Avenue should be partially opened/completed by the end of the year. (Clearpath 465) Not to mention there is also work on the Northeast side to improve/reconfigure the I-465/I-69/Binford Blvd. Interchange. Also they are widening 465 to eight lanes between the White River and Fall Creek. Construction will not be wrapped up until 2025 unfortunately. Also they are closing some ramps down up to 3 years. Also you forgot I-469 in Fort Wayne ;)
Its just like all the other road projects in Indianer, they are never completed. 69 in Indy should have been built when 65 was and it would be done there like it should have been when it was planned.
This was really cool to see what is done to build an interstate highway. My dad always talked about how I-75 was still unfinished between Marietta and Cartersville Georgia and they would take their hotrods out on the unopened parts and drag race each other and this was about 1970. Its hard to believe that not being there cause it always has been for me. I find it odd though that south of Indiana you only have pockets of road thats signed as I-69. To me it feels confusing to just have pockets of highway separated by hundreds of miles but with the designation. If they don't connect they shouldn't bare the same number until they are connected.
What you stated about Louisiana also applies to Arkansas: Its about I-69’s priority compared to more immediate needs. Arkansas seems more focused on completing I-49 south of Fort Smith, and upgrading US412 to a four-lane, controlled access freeway. Those two highways intersect where Walmart, Tyson Foods, and J.B. Hunt are headquartered, so there’s probably a greater financial incentive to focusing on these two projects.
Agreed. I honestly wouldn't be surprised to see the 49 completion date pushed out to the 2040s or 2050s. The section South of Texarkana was done fairly quickly with half opening in the mid-2000s and most of the rest to near the state line completed soon after. Meanwhile the 20-mile or so extension of I-540 to the Missouri line took nearly 20 years. The sections of 69 (including the 530 extension) that are seeing any progress seem to be in-state travel and state economics focused portions rather than any attempt to actually get 69 completed.
@@booboo8706 Progress on 49 is probably hampered by the expense of having to go through the Boston Mountains, and by the fact that there isn’t a highly populated area in its proposed route between Texarkana and Fort Smith. But it appears that the Arkansas River bridge near Alma has received funding, so another expensive hurdle has been cleared.
I was born in Corunna, Indiana (around 30 miles north of Fort Wayne) and loved in Indianapolis for a long time. I’ve seen first hand how I-69 is gonna be built. Bloomington to Indianapolis was just a blvd. Now it’s getting built and almost completed.
I didn’t know there was this much involved with I-69. I’m from Little Rock, Arkansas and my first exposure to I-69 was several years ago on one of many road trips to visit family in Louisiana. Near Monticello, next to the US Highway that currently runs through the area, there is a sign that says, “Future I-69 Corridor.” I believe this is referring to some cleared land that is perpendicular to this existing road. This had been the entirety of my exposure to I-69 before I randomly came across this video, and it is still the extent of my in-person exposure to I-69. To think that this is a major project that has already been completed in some places is mind boggling. I’m excited to hopefully see what this can do for southeastern Arkansas.
@@robbierichmondtyrecop3916 I believe you’re right. I-49 already exists as a highway to connect Fort Smith to NWA (Fayetteville, Bentonville, etc.), and a little bit of it exists in the Texarkana area. My understanding is it will run from Fort Smith to Texarkana. Although, I didn’t know that it’s also planned to go into Louisiana, that’s interesting to hear.
Seeing the construction and completion of portions of 69 and 269 in northern Mississippi as a kid, inspired me to be a civil engineer. Even before I knew what civil engineering was.
Very interesting presentation. I live in a town along I 69 north of Indianapolis. I have travelled on I69 south of Indianapolis 6 times in the last couple of months. There is a great deal of progress being made from I 465 along State road 37 to Martinsville.. I noted progress with each trip.
I think it would be incredible to drive with you through some of these places and hear your insight while doing so. The interstate system has been the beginning of my dip into being an infrastructure nerd and you have a really good way of explaining it as well as some nice dry humor in regards to our 'priorities.' Good shit
Very well done overview of the project. Two cities in Texas were mispronounced (Tenaha and Nacogdoches) but there are many towns in Texas that get mispronounced even by Texans. No worries.
Martinsville to Indianapolis is under construction now, and is progressing quickly. As for the ghost ramps, the chance to see them is now gone, as the I-65 & I-70 interchange is currently being completely rebuilt and will be erasing the ghost ramps.
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Basically, it would upgrade US 60 from Sikeston to Poplar Bluff, then turn south on US 67 into Arkansas and on to Little Rock. That's if Arkansas ever finishes 67 to the Missouri line, same situation Missouri had with Arkansas on I-49. I worked in the bootheel until 1998; the upgrades to 60 and 67 around Poplar Bluff were built for that plan.
The video is good. It would be nice if some of the smaller unlisted towns you mention on the map. More interesting. Building I-49 through the mountains in Arkansas will take forever.
I moved out of kingsville, tx back in 2002~ and they were just finishing up the highway overpasses, rather than stop signs along hwy 77. And started to see sights about "future interstate 69"
For an even deeper dive into this topic, read _Interstate 69: The Unfinished History of the Last Great American Highway_ by Matt Dellinger. It's almost 10 years old now, but is a great resource for the historical and political issues surrounding the project.
Nope. Too expensive for too little ridership/ benefit. Look at California to see what a joke their train has become. In an alternative scenario if greyhound bus went broke, it could be nationalized and make use of EXISTING roads.
I think it could be useful if you refer to the colors on the map when speaking of sections, looking at the map and listening to you is making me try to figure out which part you're talking about. If there is no arrows maybe pointing to places, perhaps you can just say the "blue portion" is not built yet or whatever the case may be. Just a tip.
American is broke!!!! That’s bad when you don’t have money to fix these highways. All the money is raised privately just to pave the ones that we ride on daily.
@@kevindivel4574. "but Ukraine" 😢cries people who have never heard of NASA. Or have ever lost a relative fighting Russian aggression in other parts of the world. "but Ukraine" shouts people who do respect totalitarian governments.
^.^ I am an uber driver that regularly uses E-69 near the TX border with Mexico. spanning exit 1a to 24. TX highways are great XD the side roads are a grab bag of quality XD
Having lived almost all my 53 years along 69 in Madison county an now travel to ft.wayne it really needs to be 3 lanes from Indianapolis to Ft. Wayne to accommodate to heavy semi traffic.Im sure other parts as well will need to be expanded also.
Depending on where you are and where you have to go, public transportation can take much longer. A typical commute from a suburb to a city may require several transfers: Drive to the train station. Take the train from your town into the city. Board a bus and maybe even have to transfer to another bus to get to your destination. With a car, you just drive from your house to your destination. Someone from my town told me that he once had to take buses to go somewhere in the county seat, which is about 12 miles away. Between waiting for the buses and bus transfers, it took him two hours! However, I can drive the route in about 20 minutes. In addition, with public transportation you have to depend on someone else's schedule. With a car, you come and go as you please, whenever you want.
This was interesting. Thanks! I live in fishers, and less than a mile from I69, so I'm on this road nearly every day. They're currently (Oct 2022) doing a rework of the ramps for I69 to I465 at Indianapolis. So beware of new traffic patterns. :)
I live in Shepherd, Texas. TxDot has been working on the section of I-69 from the Montgomery/Liberty County border to just north of Cleveland forat least 3 years now. Construction has been pretty steady and looks like it may wrap up by next summer, if not late spring. I'm not sure if any of the existing overpasses will be replaced, but they did resurface the overpass just north of the BUS 59 bypass. They have demolished and rebuilt the bridge over the San Jacinto River and are currently pouring the deck, and replaced the original SB bridge, which will eventually be the frontage road. Only the original NB bridge remains, but I expect that one will also be replaced. North of Cleveland, they have been surveying and clearing the ROW up to the San Jacinto County line. Over the county line, businesses and homes have been bought and demolished in the new ROW, surveying has been done, and some sort of cable is being laid. I'm guessing that once everything south of Cleveland is finished, they're going to start on the sections from south of Shepherd to Cleveland. Shepherd had its section going through the city limits finished several years back, but it hasn't been officially renamed. I'm guessing that's because it's roughly only about a 5 mile section. What is interesting to note is that Cleveland and Shepherd, only 9 miles apart, are in different TxDot districts.
Just to update: the I-69 project from the Montgomery/Liberty County line to just south of Cleveland is 100% complete as of this post. The end result: the interstate has 3 lanes each way from just south of Loop 573 to the county line, and a fully functional frontage road that runs continuous in both directions from Cleveland to the county line. Also, 2 new overpasses have been built: - The access road to the TX 105 bypass south of Cleveland - County Rd 381
Born in Toronto and raised in Grand Rapids, Michigan, I had no idea there were even issues with I69. It's been complete as long as I've paid any attention to driving anywhere and I use it when I visit family in the old country. I was never an infrastructure nerd before, but this video might be my gateway into that whole world.
Born in Toronto raised in Ann Arbor! Yeah all I know of I 69 is that I get to go 90 instead of 85
Keep the highways, America needs highspeed bullet trains and maglev super train technology. We need more alternatives to walking, driving or flying. With a maglev super train in the northeast corridor, you can board in Washington DC and be in your office in New York city in an hour or less. Try that in your beloved cars or on the slow and lethargic American trains called Amtrak. We are the mighty United States of America, what in the hell are you waiting for? Highspeed bullet trains and maglev super train technology is the new American dream....
Trains are a waste of money. Amtrak is a joke, it’s actually faster to drive. A high speed train will have few riders and cost the taxpayers an absurd amount of cash.
@@someguy23475 Haaaa, ha, ha haaaa, lol!!! Spoken like a true American. Money? Wanna talk money? It cost 10 billion dollars to put a man on the moon to jump around and pick up rocks, it cost 10 billion dollars to put the James web telescope into space, the United States of America spent 200 billion dollars on the space shuttle program, now where's the space shuttle at now? 50 billion on the international space station, think they'll let you go up to visit? Ok we won't talk about the billions of dollars America is about to spend to put some fool on mars. During the pandemic, the us sent all that money out to America in stimulus packages costing a wopping 14 trillion. Now the United States can obtain a maglev super train system from Japan for the northeast corridor for 65 billion dollars. The US hasn't done a mega project since the Hoover dam. Japan even offered to contribute 5 billion dollars for the building of this modern marvel. When completed, the new USA Maglev super train will run from Washington DC to Boston stopping in Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York city. Traveling at speeds of up to 375 mph, you can board in Washington DC and be in your office in New York city in an hour or less. Yeah try that in your beloved cars or on the slow and lethargic American trains called Amtrak. For a country and people so damn gong ho on technology to the point that they have no problems giving up their personal information, Im very surprised they don't except real technology Now this technological advancement, and note i said, ADVANCEMENT, You would be improving infrastructure 60 percent if not more. This would benefit all people and not just a certain few selected from the science community. And you think no one would ride it? Here's some wisdom, Never think or assume because you always end up being wrong at the end of the day. Go to You Tube, tap on the Japanese maglev train and watch. Read some of the comments other than mine. So much for costs....
I agree the space program is a waste and I was against all of the stimulus packages from day one. They were wasteful and only made things worse. That being said why throw away more money. People in the US love their cars. This isn’t Japan.
Heads up, I-69 does have an auxiliary route in I-469 that goes around Fort Wayne.
Wow, kind of surprised I missed that one. You're right
Driven that! Bumpy as…. but they’re doing road work to smooth it.
I-69 from Indianapolis to the Candian border is original
I have driven through 469 as well on my way to Houston in 2021
They could skip Louisiana and Mississippi and when the federal funding does,come it will probably mostly be given to Arkansas so 2045 2044 2046 probably
I drive most of the 69 in Texas. I've watched them build a lot of it for many years. I think the 3 spurs to the valley are a great idea. Yes, I want all of I-69 in Texas no matter what other states build. It is great infrastructure for South and East Texas.
yeah, east texas does need something besides sh69/96.
There is no 69 in texas
@@cwstewartjr1973 only highway 59.
@@cwstewartjr1973 US 69 from Port Arthur, TX to Albert Lea, MN
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Route_69_in_Texas
Yea i drive to San Antonio from the valley alot and you can see alot of progress l, most within the past year
I live here in Indiana . Yeah that was a tough fight. They wanted to use the most accessible land . But it was the most accessible because it was state owned and had been protected from the very beginning of our state. As far as I can tell we tricked congress into paying for our sewer project in full then we used that money to build roads. They are currently building something that easily looks like highway standard along 37. The hardest route to take in terms of having to buy out properties . But it really looks like the gap is shrinking down to southport road and the intersection outside the city. Outside the city its clean sailing.
Yah going through Bloomington or near Nashville indiana is rough for any kind of construction
Cut right on into highway 37 here in Bloomington, took out dozens of roads and added tons of work around. In some ways I appreciate I-69, in others I despise it. Made travel in Bloomington a bitch for a LONG time
As a Mississippian, the biggest draw that I-69 has for the state is the influx of travelers and their money going through The Delta region (the poorest part of the state). Unfortunately, I fear that also may be it’s biggest drawback for the state in terms of funding when there are projects like the highway between Jackson and Biloxi that goes through the more populated parts of Mississippi (where I live). It’s truly a shame, The Delta has so much culture and neat little areas.
I agree. I live in NE Louisiana and was thrilled when Miss completed 4-laning US 61 from Leland (Greenville) north to Memphis. Cut almost an hour off my trip rather than drive through each little town. Problem is there are few exits to take you into a town to visit a favorite restaurant I found previously or activity site (like Blues Museum). I'm concerned there will be even fewer exits on I-69 and basically bypass all of the Delta Region except for a turnpike stop like they have up North.
Union City portion is expected to open in July
Poor old Highway 49.... It does seem to be getting better around Jackson at least...
@@quentinquogamoddy1999Leland is the Birthplace of Kermit The Frog! Might want to check it out at some point in my life.
I grew up near I 69 in Mid Michigan just outside of Lansing. All my childhood it was known as TEMPORARY 1-69. Sometime during my military career in the mid 80's to early 90's, it transitioned to I 69 and became a legit expressway. My dad use to always complain about how long it took just to make our section. I had no idea how far this was suppose to go. Based on what I experienced, this should be complete around 2120.
From Fort Wayne and I second everything said here.
Forget the highways, we have enough of them. America needs highspeed bullet trains and maglev super train technology.
@@forrrrestjohncave Is that what you think? Cost? The United States of America spent 10 billion dollars to put a man on the moon to jump around and pick up rocks. Think you could go? America spent 11 billion dollars to put the James web telescope into space. Think they'll let you use it? The mighty United States of America spent 200 billion dollars on the space shuttle program. Well where's the space shuttle at now? America spent 50 billion dollars on the international space station. Well hay!!! Lets go up together and visit! Wanna talk about cost? Ok we wount talk about the billions of dollars the United States of America is about to spend to put some fool on mars. If the United States of America can do all that, they can build a maglev super train. It will cost 65 billion dollars to obtain the maglev system from Japan for the northeast corridor. Japan even offered to contribute 5 billion dollars towards the mega project. When completed this train will travel at speeds of up to 375 mph. You think they'll let you ride? Well ofcourse you can! This will benefit all americans and not just a small few selected from the science community. Washington DC to new York in an hour or less. Try that in your beloved cars or on the slow and lethargic American trains called Amtrak. Oh yeah one major cost. The United States government gave away money to each American in stimulus packages costing 14 trillion dollars. Right now the United States is giving billions away to Ukraine to fight their war. Any questions about cost? Highspeed bullet trains and maglev super train technology, the new American dream....
As someone who lived in West TN for the first 36 years of my life, THANK YOU for bringing up the bridges in Memphis (the Hernando de Soto was shut down for months for a huge crack a couple of years ago) and the fact that political leadership have fought infrastructure funding. One other political issue in TN is that Middle and East TN have routinely been prioritized over West TN for state spending for decades, and I truly believe if this project had been planned to go through other sections of the state originally, it would've been finished 20 years ago. One thing that gives me hope it will be completed *before* the 2040s is that there has been a ton of manufacturing and warehousing investment since I-269 was completed, both in north Mississippi and all along the I-69/269 corridor in Tennessee.
YOTE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Pissed me off how the world changes at the Tennessee River. I'd wish folks in Jackson, Memphis, Brownsville, and Union City would cry racism over the disparities in state funding. Litterally whether you cross in Paris, Camden, or Decaturville the difference is night and day in all the infrastructure.
I remember moving to Houston in 1999 and seeing "Future I-69 Corridor" signs on US 59 through Sugar Land. Having family in Memphis, I couldn't wait for it to be finished. Decades later, and now living in Austin, I'm still waiting, but have no use for it anymore.
Same here, it would save me about 5 hours on the drive from Houston to Indy to visit family
That reminds me of the bypass around Nashville (840). I couldn't wait to use it to travel home from the far western tip of Kentucky to Huntsville, Alabama but the south western part was built later and I wasn't living there anymore by the time it was built. I still am waiting for 840 to be completed though. I believe it was supposed to be a full circle.
Well at least you have the mess that is I-35 and their progessively delayed project through Austin
@@cosmo5164 Luckily, I live in the far northern burbs and very rarely have to go into Austin. If I do, I'm closer to 183, so I opt to take it.
@@MarcBookPro I lived by and worked at the Tesla project the last year and a half, I can say I-35 traffic is horrid through downtown but I too had no reason to go into that absolute dump of an area. I stayed on the 130 side of Austin but there is absolutely nothing out there yet. I'm back home in Houston and have no plans to go back over there anytime soon lol
I just found your channel. I really like this breakdown. As an inter state trucker I really wish they would get this project done soon.
Before I retired from the Arkansas Geological Survey in 2013, in the early 2000s, I was one of two staff geologists to be involved with the planning for the I-69 corridor through Arkansas, with the at that time AHTD (now ArDOT), Arkansas Environmental Agency, and several other concerned agencies, both public and private. I went to every public meeting to hear citizen's input, along with numerous planning committee meetings. Glad to see the progress on this in other states and I never figured it would be completed in Arkansas in my lifetime. One thing you left out, there has been built in Arkansas a connecting 4 lane highway from Pine Bluff to the proposed I-69 junction. This was built a few years back because the construction design of super highway concrete requires rock that is not available in SE Arkansas, so it will need to be brought in from quarries near Little Rock.
As a resident of Indianapolis for 4 years, I have been seeing changes on the interstate that have been drastic for sure. I still remember when I lived in Princeton (in southwestern Indiana 30 minutes north of Evansville) whenever I-69 used to just have a small portion open up and whenever by I-64 it used to be I-164 in Evansville. I believe it was around 2006 whenever they first started the construction here and they were supposed to have completed it in 2018 but it’s been delayed so much that now it’s supposed to finish in 2025 (the section from Evansville to Indianapolis, not including the new bridge in Evansville)
Lakers I see. So you moved from California to Indianapolis I'm assuming?
@@MileageMikeTravels No, I actually was born in Phoenix and lived there until I was 6. Then I moved to Indiana afterwards and have lived in this state ever since. I’ve actually never visited California before
Indiana resident here. Grew up in Evansville and an Indy resident for 40 years. I-69 got behind schedule where it goes thru Bloomington because of fierce opposition to it. Once they relented Mike Pence hired a company from Spain who had never built an interstate in the U.S. to do the job. It was a fiasco. Put construction back by three years. New governor fired the Spanish company and had INDOT finish that segment up to Martinsville. Projected completion is now end of 2024. Currently working on widening I-465 on the south side of Indy and building the interchange where I-69 will come in. Marking decent progress in Johnson County just south of Indy.
I’ll be glad when they get the new Ohio river bridge done. I work in Princeton, IN and live in Henderson county Kentucky. That way I won’t have to go through the stop lights in Henderson anymore.
I’ve been living in Indiana for around 6 years now, and I’m 10. Not many changes I’ve seen so far. Not in Westfield.
I have been driving on I-69 in my state of Indiana often for nearly 50 years now. I have completely driven both north and south bound between I-465 in Indianapolis and the Michigan state line over and over again throughout the last 5 decades. Most of my trips on 69 were between Indianapolis and the Indiana Toll Road/ Ohio Turnpike. As I traveled to Toledo, Ohio to visit family on holidays. I have experienced many changes to the highway as it has gone through modifications and redesign throughout those years, I was even involved in some of that redesign work, while working for consulting engineering firms for half of my career.
Why are the roads so messed up in Indiana
Great video! You are spot on re Louisiana priorities. Anyone who has ever driven I20 from Jackson MS to Shreveport and also traveled I10 from Slidell to Lake Charles, knows how desperate money is needed to re-pave those critical stretches across the northern and southern corridors of the state!
What? You don't like the roller coaster ride of I-20 from Vicksburg to Jackson? And you don't like the "dead body" bumps between Ruston and Monroe?
Dittos!!
@@quentinquogamoddy1999 dittos!!!
As far as I'm concerned every single stretch of road in Louisiana needs repaving
It's called CORRUPTION. Lousy-Anna politicians could teach NYC & Chicago & DEE-troit pols Finesse in EFFing over constituents.
I grew up with I-69 in my backyard in Fort Wayne and the unbuilt piece in Indianapolis. During the early 70s, I-465 was only about half complete, and 69's northern terminus was M78 (current Lansing Rd) in Charlotte, Michigan.
I call I-69 James Dean Highway because when you go 50-75 miles south you go past James Dean's hometown.
@@goldenpeacock8843yep rides right thru Marion, IN
Great video, thank you Mileage Mike! Yes, Texas is committed to great roads, we’re pioneers in double decking a few freeway segments, with good foresight. Keep on truckin!
Piecemeal, I have driven many times on the entire stretch of I-69 from Port Huron to Indianapolis plus throughout Houston when I was visiting there.
This includes during the 80s while it was being converted from its designation of TEMP I-69 (Former M-78) as it was slowly converted from a divided highway to full Interstate standard from Charlotte to Flint and also what originally was the M-21 freeway from Flint to Port Huron which one day got replaced with an interstate shield in 1984.
Michigander here. I driven I-69 plenty times across the state. I-69 is also our designated High/Wide route for dimensional loads that don't fit clearances going through the Metro Detroit area on I-94.
Forget the highways, America needs highspeed bullet trains and maglev super train technology.
@@carlsmith5545 Yeah because that’s how products and goods get to stores
@@carlsmith5545 Closest ever to that exists....unprofitable Amtrak.
@@ronaldfulton1175 Lol!!! Yes, i agree. From Washington DC to new York in an hour or less are the trains that would turn profit. But in advanced countries of the far east, they have great infrastructure that sorry to say, supersedes the United States of America. Im not exactly sure how or what they're doing right but i do know, to travel on their trains their citizens pay a very inexpensive rate. Infact it compares to about 15 dollars in American currency. Over there it's about superb infrastructure and making it easy for living. The United States of America wouldn't make life that smooth for their citizens because of it's greedy attribute. America dosent care about Americans or the American government would see to everyone living in a home and know one would be hungry. The United States of America would rather spend the 200 billion dollars on the space shuttle program. Now how does that help the American people? How does that help the hungry and really, where's the space shuttle at now? If the US would have taken that 200 billion dollars back in the early 80s and build bullet, you might just be on your way home from work right now from your work sight in the next state over. At great speeds. Once you get to the station then you get in your car, stop and get dinner for the family and head home. This would have and should have been done decades ago. We're not going to talk about the billions of dollars the United States of America is about to spend to put some fool on mars. After that, America's infrastructure is still the same and so is it's problems with hunger and homelessness.
I recently learned of I-69’s existence on a road trip from Kansas City to Brownsville Texas (then onwards to Mexico). I’m used to traveling US-69, Kansas.
Once I came upon I-69E south of San Antonio, I found it charming seeing the US change to Interstate.
I also think it’s confusing seeing a US-69 as well as an I-69 interchange in Texas…
Here in Texas, US 69 and I-69 are clearly distinguishable from each other. The only place that the designations will be an issue is around Lufkin, where US 59 and US 69 merge for a few miles via East Loop 287 (which is almost a freeway except for all the driveways). Aside from that, the two highways take clearly different routes through Texas. US 69 goes from Sherman to Beaumont/Port Arthur while the future I-69 will hit Louisiana somewhere around Logansport and goes southwest through Houston all the way down to Victoria, where it splits into 69E (present-day US 77) and 69W (present-day US 59). The latter of these branches splits off into 69C which follows present-day US 281 south.
Born and raised in Port Huron, MI and I-69 is both a blessing and a curse, but she gets me a lot of places so we gotta love it 💗💗
I live maybe 2 miles off of I 69 in Southern Michigan. It's been a part of my life for 39 years. I'm glad MI has and continues to rebuild i69 as 25 years ago it was rough. Though I wish i69 went through Troy, MI.. such an opportunity missed as i75 has an exit of 69 at big beaver road.. yes I'm immature deal with it.
Lol I lived 30 miles north of Evansville Indiana from 2004-2010 for college, rumors started on I-69 by our small college town about 06 and i remember a lot of controversy between the farm land, coal areas and rivers/creeks. I remember construction a little by the end, we never thought it'd actually happen with the ongoing controversy, I moved after college and forgot about it until a few days ago while on Google maps and was surprised it actually got done. There was so much controversy on I-69 in general south of Indy I'm surprised anything got built.
I live near the Michigan portion of 69. I had no idea it is planned to be such a vast interstate. I just knew it went down to Indianapolis. It will be really cool to see it complete. I think it could lead to a lot of growth because it seems like the perfect way to link the two borders. I hope it gets done soon!
yeah that way it's easier to get more illegal immigrants
If you're in Indiana, y'all's portion of I-69 is practically done already. Only a few miles left to cover for some minor spots around Evansville and the southern part of Indianapolis.
Here in Houston, TX, I-69 is officially a thing. All of US 59 within a 45-50 mile radius of Houston (on both sides) is either designated as I-69 or meets the criteria to be designated as such. Currently, it's a continuous interstate from Cleveland to the Ft. Bend/Wharton County line at the San Bernard River bridge, with yet more extensions along the way on both ends.
I've had a 40-year relationship with I-69. I was an engineering co-op student in the early 1980's and school was in Flint, Michigan while my work assignments were in Indianapolis. Every 3 months I moved between the two cities. I thought it was really cool that there was an Interstate built specifically so I could do that.
In the present time I still travel I-69 on my daily commutes. I can sadly confirm that there is a 12-mile construction zone from MM153 to MM165. Westbound lanes have been thoroughly torn up down to the dirt and new concrete road built. Don't know if the rebuilt lanes will be open before the snow flies.
Another fun fact about I-69 is that it's the only Interstate that changes direction designation. When it reaches northwest Lansing, it changes from North-South to East-West. So it is an odd-numbered Interstate that is exception to the rule of being North-South.
Hey, another Kettering (GMI) grad!
I think I-75 switches signed direction in Alligator Alley as well actually, not sure though
@@these_handles_are_stupid It sures does run East-West. I've driven it a couple of times but also can't remember if the signs change.
@@MegaMusiclover44 Yeah, that's the one! But it was GMI-EMI when I graduated.
B-Section, BSEE ‘87
I’m from Shreveport and the big gripe is that I-49 hasn’t been connected. I don’t see an I-69 anytime soon and this is the first time I’ve ever heard of it so that’s pretty cool. I’m hopeful but this state has shown it favors the shouthern portion so we will be chilling for 30 years in the meantime
I used to haul automotive parts to and from northwest Ohio thru Indiana and this interstate was long long overdue !! In the 1950s it took just three years to build the Indiana Toll Road (157 miles) but now it takes two years just to build a simple highway overpass.
Thank you for the throughout report. We can't wait for I-69/I-369 to be completed. It's sad (and telling) to know that most of the Interstate system was built in less than 10 years, but it's taken DECADES to to build a fraction of one Interstate highway.
In the past it was just getting built and nobody would be considering/nagging about anything. Luckily we know better now, taking into consideration people's health and environmental problems that they (can) cause. Unless you want to live in a world similar to heavy populated china, where they have to pollinate by hand because all natural pollinators have died off, you must take care of the world around you.
They were still building out the interstates during the 70's and 80's. I used tour the US on my motorcycle back then when it was common to travel along a new two lane highway that was built alongside the original highway. Once completed, all traffic was directed onto it so they could rework the old road. Also was common to come to the end of an interstate where all traffic was directed onto an improved 2 lane rural road that bypassed the road construction for 35 to 45 miles only to have another bypass to slowdown traffic after traveling another 35 to 45 miles.
Actually, the Interstate highway construction started in 1956 when the Interstate highway bill was passed and it was actually at the time expected to be complete in 15 years. However it wasn't declared complete until 1992, so really it took like 36 years to complete the Interstate highway system.
When I was still a child, I remember when I-69 was still under construction in Michigan. It used to stop at M-15 in Davision. A few years later the freeway opened up 10 miles to M-24 in Lapeer.
Currently I-69 is being rebuilt between Flint and Davision, it's been going on for a few years now. Can't believe it's been around 50 years already since it was first built.
I can't believe I-69 project was that old. 50 years ago was 1972 and Louisiana was still building I-10 from Lake Charles to Lafayette. I thought the Interstates ending in 0 and 5 took precedence and would be built first since they were the major E-W & N-S routes. First I heard of I-69 was in the early 1990's when I lived in Texarkana in planning stages (to parallel US 59). Never dreamed parts were already complete in Indiana and Michigan.
The last part of I-69 in Michigan was completed in October of 1992.
My daily commute takes me up the construction zone between Indianapolis and Martinsville. Part of the I-69 project includes widening I-465 between I-65 & I-70 on the south side. It also includes rebuilding nearly all overpass bridges from scratch as well as mainline bridges from scratch. However over the course of 2022, they have finished nearly all of the overpasses. So I have no doubt that the work will be done by the end of 2024. And I am hopeful it shortens my commute by the 11 minutes they predict.
Anyways, I love seeing your videos about our infrastructure, it is always interesting to hear someone else talk about the roads we drive on everyday.
Imagine being able to follow I-69 to Memphis or even Texas from Indiana.
@@coreysmith8560 that's about it..... Imagine.... I won't be doing much driving in the mid 2050's. But it is nice to drive to Evansville on I-69.
@@coreysmith8560 I will agree to that. I often use the route as an alternate way to Nashville Tennessee.
Keep the highways, America has enough of them, America needs highspeed bullet trains and maglev super train technology..
It's so much easier to get to Bloomington Indiana from Indianapolis than it was even a year ago. They're making progress every month, which is more than I can say about the north split progress.
Where's duh "north-split"?
Eye -R- from Texis.
@@wagner9050 I-65/70 in downtown Indianapolis. They’re redoing that point where they split off on the north end of it
@@lakerskid2013
¡Muchas Garcia! My 1st CDL employer wuz in Daleville jest a li'l N.
Luv'd duh bars up N.: tall highbacked booths + they usually served meals. And the pool halls... both allowed folks 2 bring their kids... which a Lot would disagree w/.
Living near Flint MI with family in MS, I have dreamed of the completion of this highway my entire adult life.
A couple of weeks ago I needed to drive from Nashville to Detroit. Normally drive up to Louisville via I-65 and then switch to I-71 thorough Cincinnati. Then I-75 north to Detroit. However, with all the heavy traffic along that route, I decided to attempt I-69 as the only major city it passes thorough is Indianapolis (until you reach Toledo via US 24). I-69 was a much more pleasant drive with lower traffic counts than my normal route. State Road 37 in Indiana is currently being upgraded to be I-69 south of Indianapolis. There is also major construction on I-465 to widen it from the northern I-69 interchange along the east side of Indianapolis. And, if Google Maps are to be believed, using I-69 only took me 30 minutes longer than using my normal route.
69 is way under utilized.
You might also use US-24 and US-23 for the Fort Wayne-Ann Arbor stretch, as US-24 just got upgraded to Limited Access in Ohio/Indiana, it should cut down that 30 mins.
@@bryanvogt3371 Yes, I used US 24 from I-469 in Ft. Wayne to Toledo. Some of US 24 in Ohio is still just 4 laned with at-grade crossings, but no traffic signals. If Ohio could get all of US 24 up to interstate style standards, it would be fantastic.
Forget the highways, America has enough of them. America needs highspeed bullet trains and maglev super train technology.
I’ve driven many segments of now and future I-69, including through Houston during Tropical Storm Imelda in 2019. Drove I-69 NE as knew I-10 in TX and LA was getting pummeled with rains and wind. Then continued on US-59 to I-20 East. Finally outran the storm past Shreveport! Houston had bad flooding! Also driven the new segment from Evansville, IN up to yet-completed Indianapolis. Curvy as it snakes around farms.
Canadian truckers will rejoice once I-69 is completed!
It will be a game changer in the trucking industry for sure!
I grew up about two miles from 69 near Muncie. My brothers and I would ride our bikes on the unfinished freeway for fun.
I've driven most parts of I-69 in Michigan and Indiana. I remember when it still went through, not around, Lansing. What a nightmare. I hope they complete the upgrade between Indy and Bloomington soon. SR-37 is a badly outdated cow path and needs a limited-access replacement, much like US30 across the northern part of Indiana.
I69 complete to Martinsville and will be done in 2024. The northeast rebuild of I465/I69 to be complete 2025
As a resident of Flint MI and through the '80s and 90's a frequent visitor of LansingP.H. I enjoyed watching the entire construction process of E/W bound i69.. Even today, I'm known to point out to friends as we pass remains of former temporary connections, cement plants and a few now removed rest areas. By the time the orange cone season ends here (as the snow flies) i69 will be completing a 3+year rebuild through it's 4+mile Flint RoW- MUCH to the great relief of locals and passers-by.
I'm SO ready for the 475/69 interchange to be finished!!!
Also just re-constructed another section east of Lapeer towards Port Huron and are in the process of doing the westbound lanes.
@@blauer2551 Are they finally done with that stretch?
@@aurorazoe6011 Kinda, because westbound is rerouted onto the eastbound now. But going east is smooth new cement. I was there a lot.
Bro.... wow! So much info and details! I always wondered about I69. I never thought it was that big of a project. I appreciate all the research that you did for the details of this highway regarding the obstacles and such. I hope to be able to see it completed.
My pleasure!
I've been working in various fields of construction for 25 years and highway construction is one of them. Everyone always questions and compains about how long these projects take and I have seen first hand that it can be summed in two parts, one is the obvious politics, but the lesser known factor is ridiculously overzealous safety policies fueled by ambulance chasing lawyers. On the surface having those policies seems like a no brainer and for the most part safety is a good thing, but it's gone past a tipping point where too much of it is actually useless and does nothing but restrict productivity. There's too much to get into here, but overzealous safety procedures turn a simple 5 minute task into more than an hour, now multiply this by how much work goes in to these projects and you'll start to understand why a road project that could be completed in 2 years will actually take 5 to 10 years
NIce video! I have been watching the progress of I-69 for years. I have lived in Michigan, Arkansas, and most of all in Indiana. And I am a road designer. While I think a new highway thru rural Mississippi, Arkansas, and NW Louisiana could help these areas along the route. I also think it is kind of crazy that with a Texarkana extension, and going thru Memphis, that this whole section doesn't get nixed in favor of using I-40 and I-30. Honestly, it would probably be better if they build the Mississippi bridge near Tunica and tied into I-40 near Forrest City Arkansas. I do agree with your statement about having a bridge north of Memphis too, that likely ties into I-555. And that the downtown interstate crossing are not very good at serving the interstate system. But more overwhelmed by metro traffic. Anyway, both or either location would help there more than a bridge in the middle of nowhere I think.
Another thing I think that is interesting. Which you didn't really discuss, but was visible on one of your maps. I do find it a bit strange that Indiana is in with Kentucky half on the Ohio River bridge near Evansville. Oddly both sides of the river where the bridge is to cross are technically Kentucky, because of a weird state line anomaly there. If you ever drive down US 41 there. There is definitely a point made that you cross into Kentucky on the north side of the river, and that racetrack there is in Kentucky. I guess if Indiana wants it done, they gotta chip in...
As a trucker from Memphis, I have to disagree on the use of I-30/40. I-30 has heavy traffic and I-40 has been obsolete for years. I-40 between Memphis and Little Rock should have been three laned years ago (as well as Memphis to Nashville). I agree with you on the bridge north of Memphis, and it should join the southern terminus of I-555. to TN385/I-469.
I-30 and I-40 , for truckers, aren't just east-west routes, they're also north-south. Tons of freight moves between Texas and Chicago, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and the Northeast. .If you're moving between these places, I-30 and I-40 are the only way to get to I-55, 57, 65, 75, 81, and 95 from (or toward) Texas
Since I'm on my soapbox, I'll share another gripe, since you're a "road designer", you mentioned it and this was discussed in the video. It is not ok to run different highways along the same alignment. I understand it is necessary on occasion, due to geography, however it should be avoided as much as possible. We need alternate routes. We need alternate routes. We need alternate routes. In case you're hard of reading, we need alternate routes. For those times when the DOT decides to patch potholes in daytime traffic, or rearrange the reflectors in the road, or whatever the hell they are doing in daytime traffic, that could be done at night. Or, in case they miss a giant crack on a bridge crossing a major river and have to close the freaking thing for months, and the DOTs in two states are so incompetent, they can't figure out how to move traffic through, and trying to move traffic through, they actually make things even worse. I'm just pointing out, we need alternate routes. Terrorists could plant one well positioned bomb and shut down our entire country, because there is only ONE WAY to get somewhere. Stop doing that. It's stupid. /rant
This video confirmed my suspicions I-69 will never be finished in my lifetime.
@@NadaEspamo I agree 40 between North Little Rock and Memphis should have been upgraded to 3 lanes decades ago.
If you're unaware, there is now plans to extend I-57 down to North Little Rock. Along the planned path, all but 15 miles or so of the Missouri portion is already a divided highway. All except the last 30 miles or so of the Arkansas portion near the Missouri state line is already completed as US67 which built to interstate standards between North Little Rock and Walnut Ridge.
Also, the addition bridge across the Mississippi River to the end of I-555 is a great idea. There's likely quite a bit of traffic from Jonesboro and other parts of Northeastern Arkansas along with North Central Arkansas and South Central Missouri that use the 40/55 bridges with Memphis as their destination. I wouldn't mind seeing an extension of I-22 along that route as well. It could even follow the US 63 and US 60 corridors up to Springfield, Missouri or even westward to Wichita. I'm not a trucker nor a resident of the Springfield area but it would seem like it would be a popular area for manufactures and logistical companies. The geographic center of the United States' population has been fairly close to Springfield for a few decades now and it's drifting towards Springfield. An eastward extension of 22 from Birmingham thru (or near) Auburn Alabama, Columbus, Albany, and Valdosta Georgia would be neat to funnel traffic into Florida but I doubt either one of us would ever get to use it.
@@booboo8706 I know about the plan for I--57. That will take a lot of truck traffic off of I-40.
I agree, I-22 should continue up the US 63 route and across to Springfield /Wichita. I run regionally out of Memphis and use it frequently. I agree about running 22 southeast out of Birmingham, as well. I have run that many times. The only viable way to Florida from Memphis is 55 to Jackson and US 49 to Mobile, then across I-10. Running out of Jackson on US 49 is stop and go traffic, as well as from the Alabama line to Mobile. In between is pretty good road.
I would also add continuing I- 74 from Mt. Airy, NC to Indianapolis.
The Appalachians and Ozarks are big bottlenecks. Completing freeways in these areas would benefit travelers, as well as bring needed jobs in the more remote areas.
Like you, I don't think we will live to ever use them. But, it's what needs to happen for the future. The biggest holdup in my mind, is Arkansas. Unless Congress earmarks a huge chunk of cash for Interstate expansion in that area, it will be many decades before it gets done.
Politicians at the time tried to have I-69 go through Louisiana, but Clinton was President in the 90's, and so it was routed almost parallel to I-40/I-30 in Arkansas, and only going through the NW corner of Louisiana, practically bypassing the state.
I was raised here in Michigan right up the road from I-69. When I was young, the portion near our home used to be a divided highway between Perry Michigan all the way into Lansing. Lansing Road follows I-69 from Perry all the way to Haslett and this would have been the former east bound lanes when it was still a divided highway. You can still see the scars in some spots where the west bound lanes were and that was removed at least 30 years ago through there.
I remember seeing the signage changes in Houston. There wasnt much actual construction in Houston itself, but 59 got repaved going from Sugar Land to Richmond/Rosenburg, and I imagine it'll get repaved all the way to Victoria. The stretches in south TX should be pretty easy cause theyre already 4 lane divided highways, only need to build a few bypasses that goes around some town like in Freer, Goliad, Flafurrias and George West.
They still have "Future i69 corridor" signage on 59 lol
It has ruined small town East Texas.
I drive up and down 59 all the time. I can tell you that going down towards Victoria from Houston, there is PLENTY of construction especially currently in Wharton County. Past Jackson county, they likely won't need to do too much, but it's still a ways from completion.
@@zanec1780 That's because construction is being done by incremental segments. Those signs exist because the road either is being upgraded or is yet to be so.
@@ColeM40 It's not just the connections to Victoria, but all the South Texas branches, and also, much work still to be done in East Texas. As it stands, I-69E between Corpus and Brownsville in its entirety is expected to have substantial completion by 2032 at the earliest. That's huge.
Drove on I69 yesterday, from north of Humble Tx to Cleveland, Tx - at which point it is US 59, and not a wonderful highway in several spots between Cleveland and Lufkin, as far as I need to travel for work. There will have to be a bit of property acquisition and lots of overpasses built to make 59 -I69 a limited access freeway in that stretch.
The real problem is the sprawl thats been created from Houston to small towns that didn't "exist " before and ruining alotta the areas identity due to the vacuum of progress
I have driven parts of I 69 in Kentucky and the parts in Indiana. It is good to see more it being built this year as compared to last year when I traveled from Evansville to Indianapolis on I 69. It is looking good by Bloomington where Indiana University is.
There are the following auxiliary routes of I-69, and they are:
Indiana: I-469 in Fort Wayne.
Kentucky: I-169 between Nortonville and Hopkinsville, I-369 between Henderson and Owensboro, and I-569 between Nortonville and Elizabethtown.
Tennessee: I-169, north of Memphis, and I-269 to bypass Memphis as well as northwestern Mississippi.
Mississippi: I-269.
Arkansas: N/A.
Louisiana: N/A. And
Texas: I-169 in Brownsville, and I-369 in Texarkana Texas.
I predict pressure on Tennessee, Arkansas, and Louisiana to complete I-69 so that the investments in the other states can have maximal return. This would provide a great opportunity for seafood, beef, cotton, soybeans and energy from the U.S. Gulf Coast and Mid Southto be traded to the Canadians cost effectively.
That won't do any good since Louisiana won't bother building their section since the state hasn't made any effort yet to purchase the ROW for it.
Can't wait for this to be done. Going to drive on it for 69 miles, at 69mph, with the A/C set to 69F, getting 6.9 mpg thus performing the ultimate "nice"!
While "69ing."
@@fractuss Looks like I need a motorhome for this
Yes, but You need to be doing a "69" at the same time.
In Indy, the “ghost ramps” you showed, after like 25 years in existence, are actually no more. We are currently in construction for the new 65/70 split. It is on schedule to be completed later this winter. If you look at the progress, they completely redesigned the ramp and finally changed it from the original plan which included turning Binford Ave into a section of 69. The main opposition came from the neighborhoods that would be effected just south of the Indiana state fairgrounds and connect to the 65/70 split. The new design used 465 to connect the southern portion of 69 to the northern section. The new southern section ramp is also in construction and hopefully, the final two phases which include the new on ramp will be completed by 2022 because it’s been a mess the last year or so. On my channel, I have a short video clip of the 65/70 split construction from a few months ago.
Knowing Indy, they are probably already working on redesigning and changing the ramps to roundabouts.
Which would be a good thing
@@garychristison763 lol. They’re everywhere now.
the new outer loop in the future will change the trafic on 465 loop i 69 south on inianapolis is not going to be finished any time soon because of the exsiting nature preserves they want to destroy so talk is that the new loop will be the only way i 69 will be connected around the city as of right now the crossroads of america are to conjested and need to be compleatly rebuilt so the best thing would be the new outer loop to rerout the trafic around 465 loop it was to start on the east side to connect from i 69 north to i 69 south then finish the west and north side last
@@kenmiller5954 you mean the changes they’ll make to the section of 465 that will connect i69 north to south? If so yeah I agree it will need changes. There will always be construction, honestly there should be way more infrastructure projects taking place in every state. In every state we should be planning and implementing the money just allotted in the infrastructure bill Biden passed. I won’t go into politics as I’ve recently taken an interest in roadway construction projects and that’s what this video is. Im not sure if you’re from Indy but im excited to see the new split n hope that will also help divert some of that traffic and be an alternative route for a big portion of the 69 connection
I-69 is always pleasurable for me. One of the biggest problems with 69 completion is you have to travel slowly & properly. I've found that I-69 will never be completed if you try to plow in & motor through too quickly. You also need to take little detours to the areas around 69 like the forest, if there is one, and the tunnel. There are certainly areas of 69 that are more stimulating than others, but that in no way means that I-69 isn't enjoyable during the entire undertaking. By paying attention to the details, you will find that I-69 will be completed much more quickly than perhaps you initially anticipated! So quickly, in my experience, that after a little break and a nice cocktail, you'll very likely be ready for a reverse trip down 69! Most of all, just relax & enjoy I-69.
OK, that was just awesome. You know, I wonder, in all the time its taking to build this highway, if they have figured out a way to keep college frat boys from stealing the signs. Because we all know that's going to happen.
Thanks,@@modelrailpreservation I just couldn't help myself. And hell, I'm thinking about nabbing one of those freeways signs myself!
Born in Michigan now live in the south. Issues like civic projects were tought in school. Not in the south. Money that comes into some states are looked upon as income for pople in power. Great Video.
I live an hour South of Indy in Martinsville that he mentions a couple of times . We've had to deal with the building of I69 for the last few years.. it completely changed our town by dropping probably a quarter of the businesses to the ground. The bridge pillars started getting pounded into at precisely 8:01 am everyday for a year. Could see your glass of tea shaking back and forth all day everyday including Sundays. I can throw a rock and hit the sound barrier wall and I have to say IT'S AWESOME. Getting up to 465 around Indy without any stoplights is a god send for us daily commuters. Definitely worth all the headaches!!
I-69 has made it all the way up to Marion county (indianapolis area) still under construction though and the work being done on 465 in preparation for it is rather drastic. All the bridges between 70 and 74 have been torn down and redone, they have a huge spance of land cleared out for the interchange already and theyre overhauling the interchange for 69 and 465 going to north as well
Well Bryce, I-69 has existed for 30 years between Indianapolis and Port Huron Michigan. But I am glad to see that it has made its way south of Bloomington into the great expanse of nothingness that is Southwestern Indiana.
I live in Charlotte, MI and we've been working on this job the last 2-3 years. By the end of next year from 94 to Charlotte should be relatively smooth. The concrete is being replaced with asphalt which seems odd to me since it typically doesn't last as long, especially in Michigan for whatever reason. Something interesting we've found during the concrete demolition phase of the project is sections of the road were poured with concrete using only pea stone instead of larger 3/4 stone that should have been used to make it stronger. This may have contributed to some areas premature failure. Much of the old concrete has been crushed and is being used as 23A for the new road bed. That is the concrete that did have the larger stone. The stuff made with pea stone is almost useless and they've had trouble giving it away from what I've heard. I suspect by the time we finish this project the next section to the north will need to be rebuilt.
Concrete shortage due to fertilizer shortage. Fertilizer is a blasting agent, needed to mine limestone, an ingredient used to produce cement.
I remember driving 69 from lansing to 94 and that stretch was always such a nightmare for bumps it felt like you were in a jet ski on a windy day which I thought was weird because it seemed like such an empty road relatively speaking. Interesting to know it was the road material that caused the issues.
@@Noman1000 that section on the north side of Lansing east of 96 will be done this year too. The stretch that was like riding a bull lol. I want to take a jar of whipping cream to work one of these days to see how it takes to turn to butter. I bet not more than a few hours. As for the wrong materials back when the road was built it would have been a cost cutting measure. The inspector either didn't notice or was persuaded somehow to look the other way.
Drive that road daily I would like to meet the moron who thought it would be a good idea to cut all the joints and fill with asphalt.....only in Michigan smfh
Asphalt is permeable and also flexible. Properly maintained with sealing and overlays it last a long time. Most places don't spend the time and money to mill the surface flat before repaving, the rollers can't get the correct compaction to make the asphalt strong. Potholes result. Big problem with concrete is pouring it on windy days and you get those waves. 😄
I remember when I-69 was being built between Lansing and I-94 in Michigan. Oddly, outside Lansing I-69 transitions from north/south to an east/west highway for the length to Port Huron.
Also, I-75 goes east-west and I-94 goes north-south near Detroit. Peninsula life!
I was not a fan of that drive. From Battle Creek CN Railyard to Port Huron CN Railyard, then back home after.....that is a VERY long and boring drive.
That had me so confused when I was in Michigan. I couldnt understand why an odd number interstate was going east west. I didnt realize it went south to Indianapolis.
@@CMDRFandragon I thought Michigan was beautiful. I went to a town way up north on a lake. I dont remember the name but i think it was just right before you get to the upper pennisuala. It looked like a small European town.
@@ashleyhill6697 mackinaw city prolly...ive been that far north once ever lol. We went camping and I remember gettin bit by a horsefly.....
El Dorado, AR ... I went to the annual El Dorado Music Festival a few years back. The guy on stage said "El Dorado" and a crowd of about three thousand people spoke in the most cosmically perfect unison ... "EL Doe RAY Doe." Dude took about two steps back, laughed, and said, "Man, I woke up in Denver. I don't where the hell I am." Best Concert Moment Ever!
Our biggest pet peeve: Outsiders mispronouncing the town's name.
Not even Brad Paisley got a pass.
Cool to see the Memphis skyline in the intro!
You all should live here in Lansing, where I-69 and I-96 intersect and even share a few miles of road. Plus, I-69 has EASILY been the most ignored road around here and it's soooo rough in the right lane that most everyone avoids the right lane. We've watched numerous trailers disconnect from their trucks due to the conditions. Also, some sections south of Lansing have been closed during hotter days as the road separates since they used a lot of rubberizing compounds on cement roadbed. Finally, 5:11 - it's pronounced "shar-lot" even though it's spelled Charlotte.
My wife is from charlotte.vickie fogle brother randy
I grew up in Arkansas and went to college along the I40 corridor. Made several trips to south Texas and the Florida panhandle over the years. I69 sure would have been useful to make the trips quicker to varying degrees!
Great video, Mike! I have been wondering what the status of I-69 was throughout the states. I don't however believe I'll be around to see it completed. 😄
By the time it is completed people will be flying around in electric drone type vehicles.
Here in Tennessee from SF to Mayberry rd in UC is open westbound Mayberry rd to w reelfoot is under construction and currently there is no timetable for the troy bypass then Troy to dyersburg is open and that's all here that exists.
It is bad enough that I69 and I96 intersect in Lansing, MI. When MDOT replaced the signage, the sign shop transposed a sign that showed I69 as I96 and I96 as I69. Someone must have noticed at they fixed it. This area is nightmare for even slightly dyslexic people like me when they first encounter the interchanges. Battle Creek, MI - sometimes called erotic city, as it's half way between 69 & Climax, MI
I'm originally from Brownsville, Tx, I've seen major changes from Brownsville to Robstown,tx. one of the major problems in south texas is side stepping small towns that are along it's route from the Rio Grande valley to Houston tx.
I'm from the Victoria TX area. From Houston to Victoria is already an interstate. Victoria has set up for this split recently building a hwy loop that goes around and bypasses most of the city. Alot of the texas sections already have alot of the infrastructure they just need to make some changes and adjustments here and there. Victoria to Brownsville is hwy 77 and Victoria to Laredo is hwy 59. Both just need upgrades
hate that stretch, drove from corpus to houston a bit and got a ticket there lmao
@@bradywalton1357 yea I take i10....59 is cop city. Mainly because that 59 corridor is like the highest for trafficking drugs and stuff to and from Mexico so there's always cops along 59 ready to stop someone
Forget the highways, America has enough of them, America needs highspeed bullet trains and maglev super train technology.
@@bradywalton1357 speed traps and dps not to mention border patrol
It came through my hometown, Martinsville, Indiana last year and is under construction from here to Indianapolis. It's been a major headache and has been very heavy-handed in the way they have destroyed businesses and homes.
Yes, Martinsville is a mess with all this construction. I travel to the Florida panhandle and Alabama a lot. I live in plainfield, i am finding i69 more relaxing thur In and Ky over 65 in southern indiana. I 65 needs major upgrades as it carries too much traffic. Ofcourse is always a mess in Nashville.
I was raised in Pt. Huron, when I-69 building got started. It followed me to Lansing, when I went there for college. I moved to west Tennessee, and low and behold, I-69 has stalked me all the way here!
Memphis resident here. They have designated portions of I-240 and I-55 as also being I-69.
Also, Benoit, MS is locally pronounced "Ben-OYT" even though we all know that's wrong 😂
5:13 Charlotte, Michigan is pronounced "shar-LOT," not like the North Carolina city.
Perhaps also of interest regarding Michigan I-69 is that it once carried US 27 from the Indiana state line (in fact, from the north end of Fort Wayne if we count the Indiana portion) to the northeast corner of Lansing, whereupon US 27 broke away to head north along what is now US 127 through St. Johns, Mount Pleasant, and Clare up to I-75 at Grayling. Indiana kind of wanted to get rid of US 27, and Michigan reluctantly went along with the plan, simply removing the 27 signs along the I-69 concurrency and replacing 27 with 127 from Lansing to Grayling.
My wife is from charlotte.vickie fogle brother randy
US 27 used to go from Sault Ste Marie, MI to Miami, Florida. A very long trip along a two lane highway. From Charlotte as well.
(North Split Project) Speaking of the proposed I-69 portion that was supposed to run through downtown Indianapolis to the "North Split" of I-65/I-70, there was also another proposed alternative that was I-165 to 38th St but also had lots of public opposition and was scrapped. However, in the picture you can see the ramp studs of what would have been I-165/I-69. Currently that interchange is being reconstructed to improve safety since there were flaws that cause traffic to weave. Not to mention the North Split was originally designed to have a 4th leg (I-165/I-69) anyways. The new interchange is supposed to re-open in November but I personally feel like it will take until December before I-65/I-70 is re-opened.
(I-69 Finish Line) Also I-69 between Martinsville and I-465 is over halfway done. The mainline construction should be mostly-finished up to Edgewood Avenue/SR 37 by the end of the year. The majority of the rest of the construction is building the new road that will split of SR 37 at Edgewood Avenue to accommodate the new I-465/I-69 interchange and to rebuild/widen the southwest leg of I-465 between I-70 and I-65 from six to eight lanes. The rest of the work will be the never-ending work of "finishing touches" in Morgan County, half of the mainline pavement in Johnson/Marion, and completion of the Smith Valley Road Interchange. All the other interchanges up to Edgewood Avenue should be partially opened/completed by the end of the year.
(Clearpath 465) Not to mention there is also work on the Northeast side to improve/reconfigure the I-465/I-69/Binford Blvd. Interchange. Also they are widening 465 to eight lanes between the White River and Fall Creek. Construction will not be wrapped up until 2025 unfortunately. Also they are closing some ramps down up to 3 years.
Also you forgot I-469 in Fort Wayne ;)
Jayfire, INDOT has set a goal of the end of December for completion of the North Split. Weather permitting.
I am near the I465/I69 rebuild and it is painful for us. detours galore!!
Its just like all the other road projects in Indianer, they are never completed. 69 in Indy should have been built when 65 was and it would be done there like it should have been when it was planned.
This was really cool to see what is done to build an interstate highway. My dad always talked about how I-75 was still unfinished between Marietta and Cartersville Georgia and they would take their hotrods out on the unopened parts and drag race each other and this was about 1970. Its hard to believe that not being there cause it always has been for me. I find it odd though that south of Indiana you only have pockets of road thats signed as I-69. To me it feels confusing to just have pockets of highway separated by hundreds of miles but with the designation. If they don't connect they shouldn't bare the same number until they are connected.
What you stated about Louisiana also applies to Arkansas: Its about I-69’s priority compared to more immediate needs. Arkansas seems more focused on completing I-49 south of Fort Smith, and upgrading US412 to a four-lane, controlled access freeway. Those two highways intersect where Walmart, Tyson Foods, and J.B. Hunt are headquartered, so there’s probably a greater financial incentive to focusing on these two projects.
Agreed. I honestly wouldn't be surprised to see the 49 completion date pushed out to the 2040s or 2050s. The section South of Texarkana was done fairly quickly with half opening in the mid-2000s and most of the rest to near the state line completed soon after. Meanwhile the 20-mile or so extension of I-540 to the Missouri line took nearly 20 years.
The sections of 69 (including the 530 extension) that are seeing any progress seem to be in-state travel and state economics focused portions rather than any attempt to actually get 69 completed.
@@booboo8706 Progress on 49 is probably hampered by the expense of having to go through the Boston Mountains, and by the fact that there isn’t a highly populated area in its proposed route between Texarkana and Fort Smith. But it appears that the Arkansas River bridge near Alma has received funding, so another expensive hurdle has been cleared.
While watching this video Im currently 300yrds from 69 here just north pf benton ky. Pretty cool video
I was born in Corunna, Indiana (around 30 miles north of Fort Wayne) and loved in Indianapolis for a long time. I’ve seen first hand how I-69 is gonna be built. Bloomington to Indianapolis was just a blvd. Now it’s getting built and almost completed.
I didn’t know there was this much involved with I-69. I’m from Little Rock, Arkansas and my first exposure to I-69 was several years ago on one of many road trips to visit family in Louisiana. Near Monticello, next to the US Highway that currently runs through the area, there is a sign that says, “Future I-69 Corridor.” I believe this is referring to some cleared land that is perpendicular to this existing road. This had been the entirety of my exposure to I-69 before I randomly came across this video, and it is still the extent of my in-person exposure to I-69. To think that this is a major project that has already been completed in some places is mind boggling. I’m excited to hopefully see what this can do for southeastern Arkansas.
From my studies i49 is also a priority in W-AR as well as LA
@@robbierichmondtyrecop3916 I believe you’re right. I-49 already exists as a highway to connect Fort Smith to NWA (Fayetteville, Bentonville, etc.), and a little bit of it exists in the Texarkana area. My understanding is it will run from Fort Smith to Texarkana. Although, I didn’t know that it’s also planned to go into Louisiana, that’s interesting to hear.
@@chrissimmons8660 currently they're working on alma to barling
Also i49 currently goes from fort Smith to KC then becomes i29 to Canada
Arkansas probably holds the same opinion as Texas that Louisiana will never build their section of I-69 so won't build their part in SE Arkansas.
Seeing the construction and completion of portions of 69 and 269 in northern Mississippi as a kid, inspired me to be a civil engineer. Even before I knew what civil engineering was.
I still have high hopes for I-69!
Very interesting presentation. I live in a town along I 69 north of Indianapolis. I have travelled on I69 south of Indianapolis 6 times in the last couple of months. There is a great deal of progress being made from I 465 along State road 37 to Martinsville.. I noted progress with each trip.
I think it would be incredible to drive with you through some of these places and hear your insight while doing so. The interstate system has been the beginning of my dip into being an infrastructure nerd and you have a really good way of explaining it as well as some nice dry humor in regards to our 'priorities.' Good shit
Very well done overview of the project. Two cities in Texas were mispronounced (Tenaha and Nacogdoches) but there are many towns in Texas that get mispronounced even by Texans. No worries.
Should've heard Barbara Walters butcher Natchitoches once. She tried phonetically.
" NA CHIT O CHEESE"
Good thing he didn't mention Refugio....or maybe WHY he didn't ....LOL
Martinsville to Indianapolis is under construction now, and is progressing quickly. As for the ghost ramps, the chance to see them is now gone, as the I-65 & I-70 interchange is currently being completely rebuilt and will be erasing the ghost ramps.
Still a mess as of October 8th, 2022
When will that interchange be finished?
@@liamroggenkamp hard to say. Maybe by the end of the year. They may publish it somewhere with the state police or highway commission. Safe travels
INDOT questions
Please share with all. INDOT4U is Indiana customer service portal where you can report all your roadway issues! If you haven't, be sure to check us out at INDOT4U.com or by calling 1-855-INDOT4U.
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If you haven't done one, can you do a video on how there's a plan to extend I-57 from Sikston(?), Missouri to Little Rock, Arkansas?
Basically, it would upgrade US 60 from Sikeston to Poplar Bluff, then turn south on US 67 into Arkansas and on to Little Rock. That's if Arkansas ever finishes 67 to the Missouri line, same situation Missouri had with Arkansas on I-49. I worked in the bootheel until 1998; the upgrades to 60 and 67 around Poplar Bluff were built for that plan.
This is far more likely to happen within our lifetimes than I-69.
@@rjmcallister1888 felt any earthquakes from New Madrid?
@@kosjeyr Yup. Dozens a year, but only three or four you really feel.
I-69 from Port Huron to about an hour west has been under perpetual construction for decades, driven that stretch MANY times.
The video is good. It would be nice if some of the smaller unlisted towns you mention on the map. More interesting. Building I-49 through the mountains in Arkansas will take forever.
Interstate 75 goes from Northern Michigan to just south of Miami, Florida
Sault St Marie in the UP.
@@bkayganich thank you. I couldn't remember. Happens as you get older😂😂😂😂
The proposed I-69 looks redundant between Memphis and Texarkana. What advantage is there to this new road over just using I-30?
Especially if your driving from Chicago to Houston it may be faster to go thru little Rock instead. You still need I-69 at texas.
It'll bypass the "busy" cities of Little Rock, Texarkana and Shreveport.
It's sad Mississippi just can't get 69 done keep trying Mississippi
69 is getting hella work as soon as it turns south just north of Lansing, MI. Really needed it
I moved out of kingsville, tx back in 2002~ and they were just finishing up the highway overpasses, rather than stop signs along hwy 77. And started to see sights about "future interstate 69"
Riviera, the town South of Kingsville still has a couple of annoying stop lights.
For an even deeper dive into this topic, read _Interstate 69: The Unfinished History of the Last Great American Highway_ by Matt Dellinger. It's almost 10 years old now, but is a great resource for the historical and political issues surrounding the project.
Thanks for the suggestion. Just ordered it.
Forget the highways, America has enough of them, America needs highspeed bullet trains and maglev super train technology.
Nope. Too expensive for too little ridership/ benefit. Look at California to see what a joke their train has become. In an alternative scenario if greyhound bus went broke, it could be nationalized and make use of EXISTING roads.
I think it could be useful if you refer to the colors on the map when speaking of sections, looking at the map and listening to you is making me try to figure out which part you're talking about. If there is no arrows maybe pointing to places, perhaps you can just say the "blue portion" is not built yet or whatever the case may be. Just a tip.
American is broke!!!! That’s bad when you don’t have money to fix these highways. All the money is raised privately just to pave the ones that we ride on daily.
But Ukraine
And we keep sending money to the ukraine & bringing in and funding illegal immigrants; that definitely isn't helping matters either.
Too bad the majority of the Government "infrastructure" $ will not be used for infrastructure.
@@kevindivel4574. "but Ukraine" 😢cries people who have never heard of NASA. Or have ever lost a relative fighting Russian aggression in other parts of the world. "but Ukraine" shouts people who do respect totalitarian governments.
@@jeffrobodine8579 is not proving his love for his country. Again with the bs with zero facts to prove it.
I love your analysis style, keep up the good work!
i know nothing of interstates or highways, and i dont even live near i-69 but i watched the entire video
Much appreciated
It will never be completely finished until they can find a way to stop kids from stealing the signs for their dorm rooms.
Nice
Nice
nice
I've no idea what is taking it so long, but they're going to have an impossible task keeping the road signs.
^.^ I am an uber driver that regularly uses E-69 near the TX border with Mexico. spanning exit 1a to 24. TX highways are great XD the side roads are a grab bag of quality XD
Having lived almost all my 53 years along 69 in Madison county an now travel to ft.wayne it really needs to be 3 lanes from Indianapolis to Ft. Wayne to accommodate to heavy semi traffic.Im sure other parts as well will need to be expanded also.
Why not a train system or public transportation since it is always cheaper, better for the environment, and faster travel overall?
The peasants have got to stay addicted to petroleum somehow.
Depending on where you are and where you have to go, public transportation can take much longer. A typical commute from a suburb to a city may require several transfers: Drive to the train station. Take the train from your town into the city. Board a bus and maybe even have to transfer to another bus to get to your destination. With a car, you just drive from your house to your destination.
Someone from my town told me that he once had to take buses to go somewhere in the county seat, which is about 12 miles away. Between waiting for the buses and bus transfers, it took him two hours! However, I can drive the route in about 20 minutes.
In addition, with public transportation you have to depend on someone else's schedule. With a car, you come and go as you please, whenever you want.
How about building some high speed rail instead
We don't want that
This was interesting. Thanks! I live in fishers, and less than a mile from I69, so I'm on this road nearly every day. They're currently (Oct 2022) doing a rework of the ramps for I69 to I465 at Indianapolis. So beware of new traffic patterns. :)
I live in Shepherd, Texas. TxDot has been working on the section of I-69 from the Montgomery/Liberty County border to just north of Cleveland forat least 3 years now. Construction has been pretty steady and looks like it may wrap up by next summer, if not late spring. I'm not sure if any of the existing overpasses will be replaced, but they did resurface the overpass just north of the BUS 59 bypass. They have demolished and rebuilt the bridge over the San Jacinto River and are currently pouring the deck, and replaced the original SB bridge, which will eventually be the frontage road. Only the original NB bridge remains, but I expect that one will also be replaced. North of Cleveland, they have been surveying and clearing the ROW up to the San Jacinto County line. Over the county line, businesses and homes have been bought and demolished in the new ROW, surveying has been done, and some sort of cable is being laid. I'm guessing that once everything south of Cleveland is finished, they're going to start on the sections from south of Shepherd to Cleveland. Shepherd had its section going through the city limits finished several years back, but it hasn't been officially renamed. I'm guessing that's because it's roughly only about a 5 mile section. What is interesting to note is that Cleveland and Shepherd, only 9 miles apart, are in different TxDot districts.
Just to update: the I-69 project from the Montgomery/Liberty County line to just south of Cleveland is 100% complete as of this post. The end result: the interstate has 3 lanes each way from just south of Loop 573 to the county line, and a fully functional frontage road that runs continuous in both directions from Cleveland to the county line. Also, 2 new overpasses have been built:
- The access road to the TX 105 bypass south of Cleveland
- County Rd 381
I'm 62 years old, remember as a kid they staked off I 69 to go through Shoals Indiana. That was in the early 70s.
Living in MI for many years, I-69 was on of my favorite roads to travel on.