Residents express concerns about SR75 connector
By Debbie Lowe

The firm hired for a feasibility study to develop a connector route between existing SR75 to the Hoosier Heartland Highway heard concerns from county residents as the study was explained at a Monday night Carroll County Commissioner's meeting. The road extension would connect to the new highway between Rockfield and Burrows.

Noting factors such as the economic and environmental impact and sound engineering sources used to determine a recommendation, Mario Pasarel of the Troyer Group presented three route options. He said the option to do nothing was also available.

"We are not set to make a recommendation at this time," Pasarel explained to the crowd. "We know that no matter what we do, this road is going to go through someone's occupied land."

However, audience members, including property owners Everett Snoeberger, George

Ringer and Marilyn Weis expressed objections to building a new road when the county struggles to maintain its current road inventory.

Highway supervisor Ramzi Awwad explained the plan would include building the road to state road standards, which would require maintenance to support that standard.

Pasarel advised some intersections across SR25 between Burrows and Rockfield will be "deleted" as a result of the Hoosier Heartland project.

Resident Darrell Routh said he thought the road should be built to provide another access point for that part of the county for emergency vehicles.

Pasarel said it would be two years before construction could begin on the road extension.

Lafayette attorney Mark Davis, who lobbied with the Indiana Department of

Transportation for the current Hoosier Heartland route, said building the new route makes sense for the county.

"A very good economic development zone will be created by extending SR75," he said.

The Troyer Group will present their final recommendation in approximately 30 days during a regularly scheduled commissioners' meeting.

Residents who want to see the map detailing the three options presented can visit the Delphi Comet office or the county highway garage in Flora.

Awwad encouraged citizens to look at the map or call him with comments at (574) 9674244.