8664: The Urbanophile makes the case.

The Urbanophile is regular reading around the bluegill homestead and for good reason. Even when I don't agree, it's inevitably well researched, well reasoned, and well written. On 8664, the same is true and we agree.

With the help of a site visit, new photography, and borrowed images, the Laconia native puts together a rather comprehensive look at the pending disaster that is the Ohio River Bridges Project and how 8664 is a better and cheaper solution with only a relatively few obstructionists standing in the way of Hoosier interests.

It's time that our local representatives, both publicly elected and privately self-declared, do the same.

Louisville:The Case for 8664, by Aaron M. Renn (The Urbanophile).

Better and cheaper. What's not to love?

Of course, not everybody likes better and cheaper. Highway construction and engineering companies sure don't. And they carry a lot of political weight. But Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels was already wealthy before taking office, doesn't need anyone's money, and isn't angling to do anything but serve out his last term as governor and continue pushing for change. He's brought a keen fiscal eye to the Hoosier State, and 8664 would save Hoosiers a bundle by not having to pay for 50% of a downtown bridge plus 100% of the approach work on the Indiana side. With projects like I-69 running over budget, this could be a great place to save money. Plus, the Major Moves funds allocated to the bridges project are not sufficient to pay Indiana's $1.2 billion share of the project, period. And 8664 preserves the East End bridge that Indiana cares about and which is a no-brainer.