High Ranking Republican Joins Buschon For Bird's Eye View Of I69
By: David Shepherd
Updated: October 9, 2012
EVANSVILLE - Jobs, economic growth and the nation's aging infrastructure: the 8th district congressional race came to Evansville Tuesday.
Congressman Larry Buschon, who is facing a challenge by democrat Dave Crooks, was in town joined by high ranking republican congressman Bill Shuster
Both congressmen agree projects like I69 will have a major impact on the 8th district's economy.
But congressman Bill Shuster of Pennsylvania tells the nation's infrastructure is in disarray and the trickle down could be felt here if things aren't done to correct the problem soon.
"I69 is a very important project to the Evansville area and to the 8th congressional district. The economic development opportunities are almost endless," congressman Buschon said at a news conference Tuesday at the Evansville Regional Airport.
Evansville mayor Lloyd Winnecke joined the two congressman for Tuesday's event. He added, "If you look at how many communities grow and prosper, business and industries migrate to interstate highways."
According to the mayor, that long-term impact means the potential for great opportunity.
"We think we have a great chance, over the next 10, 15, 20 years to create a technology corridor and, it may not be the Silicon Valley, but, certainly, it has the potential for tremendous job growth."
But when it comes to other areas of the nation's infrastructure, Pennsylvania congressmen Bill Shuster, the favorite to be next in line as chairman of the House Transportation Committee, says the news isn't as good.
"Our country is not investing enough in its transportation system, its infrastructure." Shuster added, "The lock and dam system along the Ohio, the Mississippi back in to Pennsylvania, we're not investing enough and we've got, literally, locks and damns that are crumbling in this country and, if you can't ship up and down the river, you've got to put it on rails and trucks and it becomes more expensive."
INDOT expects to have I-69 completed to Crane, Indiana by the end of the year.


