Indiana's governor announced plans last week to build a route through the southwest part of the state that will allow the "NAFTA Superhighway" to extend past Indianapolis.

Five years ago, Congress approved a project that would transform Interstate 69 into a link between Canada and Mexico, the Associated Press reported. And now, after years of studies and debate, Gov. Frank O'Bannon announced plans to build the 140-mile route through farming communities in the southwest, extending the Superhighway beyond Indianapolis, where I-69s last leg was completed more than 20 years ago.
The Superhighway is expected go through Michigan, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas. Red tape has delayed routes in most of those states, according to the AP.
Backers of the project, which is expected to cost at least $8.5 billion, say it would save four hours in travel time between Indianapolis and the Mexican border and ease congestion stemming from the 1993 North American Free Trade Agreement.
The route chosen by Indiana is likely to face continued opposition and possible lawsuits by environmentalists, who say the destruction to forest and farmland outweighs any economic benefit.