Illinois says no to help fund bridge, New Harmony residents disappointed | News

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Illinois says no to help fund bridge, New Harmony residents disappointed

Submitted by WFIE Web Staff

Tuesday, August 14th, 2012, 10:16pm

Topics: News

NEW HARMONY, IN (WFIE)-

The state of Illinois is putting up a road block of its own saying it will not help pay for a new bridge over the Wabash River.

Indiana State Senator Jim Tomes received a letter from the Illinois Department of Transportation declining any participation in funding this project.

In the letter, IDOT's secretary writes, "Illinois has experienced declining state and federal revenues."

Other than blaming the struggling economy, she goes on to say, traveling between New Harmony and White County, Illinois could feasibly be met by other bridges.

Some hopes were raised this weekend, when we reported that a New York investment firm has expressed interest in this project, but residents in New Harmony say the fact Illinois doesn't want to help fund even part of the project, is very disappointing.

"It's hurting this town quite a bit actually. It would be better if somebody can figure out what's going in with it, especially the traffic on this road, Highway 66. It's been bad after the bridge is shut down," said New Harmony resident, Romil Patel.

Senator Tomes says efforts to fund the project will continue, and that all options are being explored.