INDOT Sues County Over I-69 Ordinance

The Indiana Department of Transportation is suing a southern Indiana county's commissioners, saying they have no authority to limit construction of the Interstate 69 extension with an ordinance that limits overnight noise. The lawsuit filed in Marion Superior Court in Indianapolis says the Monroe County ordinance limiting noise between 10 a.m. and 6 a.m. is hindering the project that's behind schedule and where some work goes on overnight to catch up. INDOT spokesman Will Wingfield tells The Indianapolis Star that contractors already are bound by noise restrictions under their contracts. He said the ordinance approved on June 20th has caused delays and it's difficult to say when new stretches of the freeway near Bloomington might open to traffic.