VIGO COUNTY, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — Progress continues at the Clear Creek Welcome Center in Western Vigo County.
The rest stop is located at the 2-mile marker on I-70 Eastbound.
As you might recall, the old center was demolished as part of INDOT’s 600-million-dollar investment in rest stops and welcome centers across the state.
The Clear Creek Welcome Center was tucked behind the trees, barely visible from the interstate. However, as construction continues, the new welcome center is progressing toward making visitors feel welcome in the Hoosier state.
“It is a destination, so what better way to say ‘Hey! Welcome to the state of Indiana, as you come out of Illinois on I-70 then having the checkered flag ready to declare you a winner as you come across the finish line?” Blake Dollier, Public Information Officer for INDOT West Central said.
“It’s just awesome,” Vigo County Commissioner Mark Clinkenbeard said. “I mean, the size is just what floored me, how big this place is going to be.”
The project clocks in at about 15,000 square feet, and a 53 million dollar INDOT investment.
“We call ourselves the Crossroads of America, and we want to consider ourselves a leader in transportation and sometimes transportation is giving the truckers or drivers a place to rest for a little bit,” Dollier said.
Hannig Construction is the General Contractor on the project. Vice President Seth Porter said work is happening right on schedule.
The foundation has been poured and the structural steel is currently going up.
Porter said that in the coming months, the plants will be planted and the parking lots will be poured.
“Right now, the big push is getting the building dried in. So, we want to be able to start finishes, and by the wintertime, we’re going to be able to be enclosed and be able to work inside,” Porter said.
Vigo County Commissioners recently toured the site and Clinkenbeard said we’re already seeing the impact on the community.
“What we’re seeing right now is the economic impact it’s having now for local trades.
“You can see this building directly from I-70,” Porter said. “It’s very prominent. I think there’s going to be a lot more visitors here than what we’ve seen in the past.
“To have this race theme, especially in the month of May, this is just really exciting to be able to celebrate, you know, our state’s culture, our state’s history,” Dollier said.
Race fans and history buffs will be excited for the opportunity to see a replica of the Burg Warner trophy, a scoring pylon, or even an Indy Car, but they’ll have to wait until next summer, 2025.
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