Indiana kicks off investor search for Illiana Expressway

The state of Indiana on Tuesday issued a call for investors for its 12-mile portion of the Illiana Expressway, following a similar call Friday by Illinois for its 35-mile portion of the toll road.

The request for qualifications issued by the Indiana Department of Transportation and the Indiana Finance Authority on Tuesday also includes as part of the project the widening of Interstate 65 between U.S. 30 and Ind. 2.

However, there are no plans to add tolls to that portion of I-65, according to INDOT spokesman Jim Pinkerton.

Although tolls will be used to pay for the building and upkeep of the Illiana Expressway, the I-65 widening would be funded by traditional state and federal appropriations, Pinkerton stated…Please click here to read Keith Benman’s story in the Times.