EVANSVILLE, IN-Opening years ahead of schedule, and according topublic filings, approximately $80 million under budget, the firstsegment of Interstate 69 was operational at of 6 p.m. ET, Nov. 19.The 67-mile corridor links Evansville with Crane Naval Base in thesouthwest corner of the state, an area that relied on secondaryroads for transport.

"One of the key benefits of the new corridor is that it providesgreater connectivity to important areas of the state that have beenhistorically underserved," noted Indiana Department ofTransportation Commissioner Michael B. Cline in aprepared statement. "I-69 will significantly reduce travel timesand provide residents across southwest Indiana with improved accessto jobs, education and healthcare."

The planned future of Interstate 69 is a route connectingEvansville to Indianapolis through Bloomington. There aregrander plans for the road as well – it's part of a limited accesshighway eventually planned to go from the Mexican border in Texasto the Canadian border at Port Huron, MI. The next section of theroad, which will link Crane and Bloomington, is scheduled to openby late 2014. The entire project has a price tag of approximately$1.5 billion and those who champion the road point to economicdevelopment through commercial real estate development and jobscreation.