READI projects support Amazon
County officials announced that the final section of Peter Schickel Way (formally called the “Lanesville Connector Road Project”) was recently completed and is now fully open to traffic. Peter Schickel Way provides a direct connection from I-64 at the Lanesville interchange to S.R. 64 just west of Georgetown. The new roadway is approximately 2.5-miles in length and was constructed in three phases. The first phase was completed in 2012, the second phase was completed in 2020, and the final phase was completed in 2024. The project was made possible through a successful partnership with the Indiana Department of Transportation that provided federal funds to cover approximately 61% of the total project costs. The opening of Peter Schickel Way is the culmination of efforts that began with the Lanesville Interchange Master Plan adopted in 2001. The new, modern roadway was included in the Lanesville Interchange Master Plan to help support and drive economic development at the Lanesville Interchange. Those long-term efforts by Harrison County are now bearing fruit with the construction of new projects such as Amazon, JC Moag, and Robertson Ready-Mix.
“With the I-64 connection, this roadway accesses the Lanesville Business Park which is just 13 miles from Louisville, KY making this area an outstanding location for Residential and Business development”, said Nelson Stepro, President of the Harrison County Commissioners.
“The development team that helped bring Amazon to the Lanesville Interchange in Harrison County specifically identified Peter Schickel Way as an asset for their project”, added Donnie Hussung, the County Council Chairman. “Additionally, the expansion of utilities to serve the Amazon distribution center will help support other business and housing developments in the area”. Harrison REMC made a major investment in upgrading the electric service and County officials took direct action and partnered with Indiana Utilities to extend natural gas service to the interchange area to serve the Amazon project and anticipated future development.
“There are a lot of contributors that go into our thought process on where to place new facilities. We’re responding to customer demand and want to make sure our buildings are close to customers so we can offer great Prime service and fast shipping speeds. We also strategically look for locations that provide robust public infrastructure, a strong, dedicated workforce, and great local support – and we have found all of those factors in Harrison County, Indiana,” said Kyle DeGiulio, Senior Regional Economic Development Manager at Amazon.
A major housing development, The Woods of Heritage Hills, is now also under construction and will eventually include 141 single family homes just south of the I-64 interchange. This development is also served by the expansion of utilities and outstanding highway access.
READI projects
Indiana Governor Eric J. Holcomb established the $1.25 billion READI program in 2021. It has been nationally recognized for its success. READI projects bring vibrancy to regions across the state to accelerate shovel ready projects and programs that will transform Hoosier communities, attract talent and improve quality of life. Harrison County is part of the Indiana First/Southwest IN Development Region which received $15 million in each of the two READI grant rounds since 2021. The more than $20 million Amazon development provided the necessary private funding to support $1.5 million of sewer and water improvements in the area of the Lanesville Business Park. The Town of Lanesville is in the initial stages of expanding the wastewater treatment plant which handles the wastewater from the business park. Ramsey Water Company will soon kick off an expansion of their water service that will include improvements for fire protection flow, and it will provide new water service in the area surrounding the now completed Peter Schickel Way. Lanesville Town Council President James Powers said: “our small town has to improve our utility services in order to grow, and the READI program funding will be significant in our Wastewater treatment plant expansion”.
The interaction that includes private and public investment for a common purpose is exactly why the READI program is making such a positive impact all across Indiana. This program will bring jobs to the Business Park, more housing for workers, and more people will move to Indiana because of these projects.