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Mid-States Tier 2 Project Newsletter
New Tier 2 analysis shows that daily peak-time commuters would save up to 2½ hours each workweek with the Mid-States Corridor. With the remaining two alternatives refined and access options explored, the Tier 2 analysis of Section 2 in Dubois County provides a clearer picture of the time savings the new corridor will deliver.
An average daily one-way trip between Dale and Hayesville would save seven minutes of travel time. During peak travel times, those savings increase to 14½ minutes. Commuting during peak times would result in a total savings of 28 minutes per day, on a Monday through Friday work week.
This more detailed analysis should not be confused with the Tier 1 analysis of access to destinations from a specific location, such as downtown Jasper. These reductions represent only a fraction of the total travel-time savings identified in the Tier 2 analysis.
The Mid-States Corridor will produce significant overall travel-time savings throughout Southern Indiana. For example, the two alternatives carried forward, Alternative 2B and Alternative 3B , would save approximately 300 truck hours and 600 automobile hours each day. Over the course of a year, that total exceeds 300,000 hours saved; 52% of this savings occurs in Dubois County.
These benefits extend beyond commuters and truck fleet vehicles. Drivers using US 231 will experience improved travel conditions, since the Mid-States Corridor is expected to divert more than 1,700 semi-trucks from US 231 each day.
This analysis is part of the broader process used to measure costs, benefits, and impacts. It is included in a draft environmental document anticipated to be released next fall. The document follows a process prescribed by, and closely coordinated with, the Federal Highway Administration and other regulatory agencies.
An average daily one-way trip between Dale and Hayesville would save seven minutes of travel time. During peak travel times, those savings increase to 14½ minutes. Commuting during peak times would result in a total savings of 28 minutes per day, on a Monday through Friday work week.
This more detailed analysis should not be confused with the Tier 1 analysis of access to destinations from a specific location, such as downtown Jasper. These reductions represent only a fraction of the total travel-time savings identified in the Tier 2 analysis.
The Mid-States Corridor will produce significant overall travel-time savings throughout Southern Indiana. For example, the two alternatives carried forward, Alternative 2B and Alternative 3B , would save approximately 300 truck hours and 600 automobile hours each day. Over the course of a year, that total exceeds 300,000 hours saved; 52% of this savings occurs in Dubois County.
These benefits extend beyond commuters and truck fleet vehicles. Drivers using US 231 will experience improved travel conditions, since the Mid-States Corridor is expected to divert more than 1,700 semi-trucks from US 231 each day.
This analysis is part of the broader process used to measure costs, benefits, and impacts. It is included in a draft environmental document anticipated to be released next fall. The document follows a process prescribed by, and closely coordinated with, the Federal Highway Administration and other regulatory agencies.
Understanding the Alternatives: Navigating the Project Maps
The Mid-States Corridor project team carried forward two alternatives for additional analysis and refinement. An alternative consists of the highway alignment, type (expressway was selected), and access variations. Maps for Alternatives 2B and 3B are available on the project website by scrolling down on the homepage. 2B and 3B were divided into a 2B North / 3B North and 2B South / 3B South to make them more user-friendly, reduce file size and improve scale. Scrolling past Alternatives 2B and 3B, you will find six variations. These are areas where more analysis is needed so options were added in addition to those shown for 2B and 3B. The variations are:
When viewing the maps, the first thing you will likely notice are the bright yellow lines. These lines show the approved 2,000-foot-wide corridor, which represents the study area. This is not the project footprint. This is a common misconception we hear from visitors at the project office who assume the entire area between the yellow lines will be impacted. In reality, only about 25% of this area is expected to be needed for the project. The study area was established during Tier 1 and serves as the boundary within which a specific highway alignment is evaluated.
The lightly shaded yellow area on the map represents land set aside for the highway, known as the right of way. The width of the right of way varies depending on terrain, slope stability, drainage and nearby resources. This is a preliminary estimate and will continue to be refined as design advances, with the goal of reducing impacts where possible.
The travel lanes are shown on top of the right of way. As you review the maps, you’ll see that the roadway itself is relatively narrow compared to the right of way. The additional space is needed for safety features such as shoulders, slopes, and clear zones (the open areas beside the road).
The maps also show potential building relocations. As design continues, we expect this number to decrease. Relocations have already been reduced from earlier estimates to 62 for Alternative 2B and 41 for Alternative 3B.
Finally, bridges are shown to illustrate where local roads would cross over or under the expressway. Additional bridges, such as those required at stream crossings and in floodplain areas, are still being evaluated and will be added to the maps as the analysis progresses.
To help explain these elements, we encourage you to watch this video that highlights each feature shown on the maps.
If you have trouble opening or navigating the maps online—or if you prefer to view them in person—large-scale printed maps are available at the project office. Staff are available to walk through the maps, answer questions, and explain how the alternatives are being evaluated.