New stretch of I-69 opens to traffic

ELBERFELD, Ind. (AP) -- Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels has ceremonially cut the ribbon opening the first section of the Interstate 69 extension slated to eventually run from Evansville to Indianapolis.

Daniels joined Congressman Larry Bucshon (boo-SHAHN') and other officials for Monday's ceremony on the highway near its Indiana 68 interchange north of Evansville.

The Evansville Courier & Press and WFIE-TV report Daniels then rode off on his motorcycle leading a caravan to a second celebration near Washington, with another later at U.S. 231 interchange where the highway currently ends near the Crane Naval Surface Warfare Center southwest of Bloomington.

The highway is to open to public traffic Monday evening.

Indiana Department of Transportation spokesman Will Wingfield says the project's first 67 miles cost just under $900 million, about 25 percent under cost estimates.