STATEHOUSE (March 19, 2010) - Gov. Mitch Daniels today signed into law State Sen. Ed Charbonneau’s proposal allowing a public-private partnership to be used to build and develop the Illiana Expressway.

“With this proposal signed into law today, we are one step closer to creating thousands of jobs for Hoosiers,” said Charbonneau (R-Valparaiso).

Charbonneau said the new law contains provisions spurring economic development and job creation while building bridges and a bypass connecting Interstate 65 in Lake County with Interstate 55 in Illinois. He said nearly $5 billion in potential new highway and bridge projects - paid for without tax dollars - are included in this bill.

“We can help boost the state’s economy, provide jobs and make Indiana’s roads and bridges safer by investing in this infrastructure,” Charbonneau said.

In a released statement today Daniels said, “No action of this General Assembly has greater potential for job creation than SEA 382. The Illiana Expressway in northwest Indiana and the Ohio River Bridges in southeast Indiana are long-sought major infrastructure projects with the potential for significant economic impact. This bipartisan legislation enables the use of public-private partnership financing options, which are the only practical means of making them happen. While other states are shuttering their highway programs, Indiana is shattering all records for infrastructure investment, and this could extend that record with enormous benefit to Hoosiers at opposite corners of our state.”

Charbonneau’s legislation authorizes a private company to build and operate the expressway as a toll road, but the state would retain ownership of the land. The bill also authorizes a public-private partnership project for bridges over the Ohio River.

Sen. Charbonneau represents Senate District 5, which includes Starke County and portions of Porter, LaPorte, Marshall, Jasper, Pulaski, and St. Joseph counties.

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