South-central Indiana citizens turned out en masse once again on Aug. 26, 2010, to tell the Indiana Department of Transportation they oppose new-terrain I-69. At a packed gymnasium at Eastern Greene County Middle School, more than 9 of every 10 speakers pleaded with the state to change its decision.
Although there has never been any violence or threats of violence at I-69 public hearings dating back 20 years, numerous police officers attended the Aug. 26 hearing. Reinforcements gathered at the nearby Eastern Greene County High School, where police vehicles filled the parking lot.
Thomas Tokarski from Citizens for Appropriate Rural Roads presented INDOT officials with petitions gathered through the years with more than 150,000 citizen signatures opposing I-69.