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  • Interstate 69

    By Joshua Kim September 16, 2010 9:15 pm EDT

    Interstate 69: The Unfinished History of the Last Great American Highway by Matt Dellinger tells the story what may prove to be the nation's last major new territory superhighway. A road that was originally intended to reach rural counties in Indiana that have been left behind by a globalized economy, Interstate 69 morphed into a massive Mexico to Canada behemoth, and become known (for a time) as the "Nafta Superhighway."

    To enjoy this book as much I did you should share with me the following characteristics:

    • A fascination (or obsession) with infrastructure. If you love the National Geographic series "MegaStructures" then I recommend this book. Even if you like to hang out in the server room at your campus you may enjoy this book.
    • A curiosity about the economics of transportation. Interstate 69 got wrapped up in the whole debate about private toll roads and peak pricing - fascinating.
    • An interest in the tension between globalization and sustainable development, between preserving authentic places and creating economic opportunities for workers.

    It is never clear from the story if building Interstate 69 is a good idea or not. Dellinger tells the stories of those who fought the highway, arguing for improvements in local roads as a way to save money and preserve local quality of life. And he tells the story of the highway boosters, who are convinced that without major highways large parts of the rural Midwest and South will grow ever more economically marginalized.

    A great read, and an excellent companion piece to Caught in the Middle: America's Heartland in the Age of Globalism by Richard C. Longworth

    What are you reading? Seriously.

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Comments on Interstate 69

  • Wow...they wrote a book about it
  • Posted by John , Student on September 17, 2010 at 12:45pm EDT

  • As someone who has lived in a city along 69 (Lansing), this story is fascinating to me in several ways. Thanks for the tip-off. Not reading anything at the moment unless it's associated with my masters, so no tips at the moment. Once I am done in November, then I will be reading a LOT.

  • Mischaracterization of NIMBY
  • Posted by Michael Stiffler , Electronic Resources Coordinator / Learning Resource Center at Harrison College on September 20, 2010 at 10:15am EDT

  • Thanks for the headsup on this title Joshua. The Commerce Connector, a section of I-69 that our illustrious govenor and future presidential candidate attempted to pass off as a new idea of us was slated to pass through my living room. Had the gov come clean and told the truth about this toll section of I-69 he may well have been built. Unfortunately without full disclousre it appeared to us that the govenor was attempting to sieze a large swath of farm land, sell it to the highest bidder (a 75 year lease is as good as sold in my book), and take the proceeds to finish his pet project of a four lane highway to Evansville. Because the Dept. of Transporation reps that came to the town meetings refused to disclose what this book discloses they came across as idiots who refused to read the recently released study findings showing that a 2nd ring road around Indy would not be needed. By the time we ferreted out the truth, as a local farmer stated, only the asphalt salesmen are for this thing, and the govenor withdrew his proposal. Hey, isn't it plagiarism when you attempt to pass along an idea as yours when it isn't? Darn, I should have run his proposal through Turnitin.

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