Frank O'Bannon Highway
Encyclopedia
The Frank O'Bannon Highway is a series of highways in the state of Indiana
.
The highway follows existing segments, from south to north, of Indiana 37
from Tell City to Eckerty, Indiana 64
at Eckerty, Indiana 145
from Eckerty to French Lick, Indiana 56
from French Lick to Prospect, U.S. 150 (concurrent with Indiana 56) from Prospect to Paoli, and Indiana 37 once again from Paoli to Bedford.
With the exception of the four-lane Mitchell-to-Bedford segment (Indiana 37), the majority of the highway is two lanes.
Note: While the Frank O'Bannon Highway officially ends at Indiana 37's interchange with I-64
, Indiana 37 itself continues south to Tell City; thus, that city's inclusion in this list.
, who died after suffering a stroke in 2003 with 16 months remaining in his second and final term.
O'Bannon, a Corydon
Democrat
, who was first elected to the Indiana General Assembly
as a state Senator in 1970, had long supported an improved highway linking to Interstate 64
. This position greatly endeared him to his constituents, who had long dealt with narrow, winding and somewhat dangerous two-lane highways connecting them to the rest of the state.
The Indiana 37/145 Association, which is made up of community and government leaders from Perry, Crawford, Orange and Lawrence counties, considered O'Bannon a strong ally in getting better and faster access to Interstate 64
for their communities. Following his death, the Association lobbied the state of Indiana to name the highway in his memory.
, as well as that of Indiana 64
and Indiana 145
which continue the route from Eckerty to French Lick.
to Indianapolis
, Indiana 37 had been upgraded to four lanes by the early 1980s. South of Bedford, the road remained two lanes. This changed when the state widened an additional seven miles (11 km) of the highway from just south of Mitchell
to the west junction with U.S. 50 south of Bedford to four lanes.
From Paoli
to Mitchell, the road is still a two-lane facility, but it is in relatively good condition and congestion is seldom an issue. However, traffic in Paoli itself is forced to negotiate the town square, which generally resembles a roundabout
. From Paoli to the south and west, the highways (Indiana 37, Indiana 56 and U.S. 150) are narrow and winding.
, which has a storied history—illegal gambling flourished along with the mineral springs in the early years of the 20th century in West Baden and French Lick -- is in the midst of a tourism rebirth. The new French Lick Resort Casino
and the restoration of both the French Lick Springs Hotel
and West Baden Springs Hotel
have drawn many thousands of visitors. In addition, during the winter months, Ski Paoli Peaks, a popular snow-skiing park in Paoli, also draws thousands of tourists.
With additional people on the roads, Orange County officials and the Indiana 37/145 Association (see below) are seeking to have the state make more improvements to the Indiana 56/U.S. 150 leg of the highway.
(INDOT) does not plan to make major changes to that segment. The first of the improvements are set for construction in 2009. The Association continues to lobby for the original plan—making 56 and 150 into a "super-two" -- as traffic generated by the new French Lick Resort Casino
was not taken into consideration when the plan was scrapped by INDOT.
A by-pass of Paoli, which has been tentatively numbered as Indiana 237
, is one of the state's Major Moves
projects scheduled to begin construction in 2012. This segment of 237 will likely become part of the Frank O'Bannon Highway.
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
.
The highway follows existing segments, from south to north, of Indiana 37
Indiana State Road 37
State Road 37 in the U.S. State of Indiana is a major route in Indiana, running as a 4-lane divided highway for 110 miles of its course....
from Tell City to Eckerty, Indiana 64
Indiana State Road 64
State Road 64 in the U.S. State of Indiana is an east–west highway that crosses most of the southern portion of the state, covering a distance of about .-Route description:...
at Eckerty, Indiana 145
Indiana State Road 145
State Road 145 is a north–south road in the southwest portion of the U.S. State of Indiana.-Route description:State Road 145 begins at State Road 37 about to the northeast of Tell City, near the Perry County Municipal Airport. It runs north through the small towns of Bristow and Sassafras,...
from Eckerty to French Lick, Indiana 56
Indiana State Road 56
State Road 56 in the U.S. state of Indiana is a route that travels the south central part of the state from west to east.-Route description:...
from French Lick to Prospect, U.S. 150 (concurrent with Indiana 56) from Prospect to Paoli, and Indiana 37 once again from Paoli to Bedford.
With the exception of the four-lane Mitchell-to-Bedford segment (Indiana 37), the majority of the highway is two lanes.
Note: While the Frank O'Bannon Highway officially ends at Indiana 37's interchange with I-64
Interstate 64
Interstate 64 is an Interstate Highway in the Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Its western terminus is at I-70, U.S. 40, and U.S. 61 in Wentzville, Missouri. Its eastern terminus is at an interchange with I-264 and I-664 at Bowers Hill in Chesapeake, Virginia. As I-64 is concurrent with...
, Indiana 37 itself continues south to Tell City; thus, that city's inclusion in this list.
Namesake and purpose
The highway is named for former Indiana governor Frank O'BannonFrank O'Bannon
Frank Lewis O'Bannon was an American politician who was the 47th Governor of Indiana from 1997 until his death in 2003.-Background:...
, who died after suffering a stroke in 2003 with 16 months remaining in his second and final term.
O'Bannon, a Corydon
Corydon, Indiana
Corydon is a town in Harrison Township, Harrison County, Indiana, United States, founded in 1808, and is known as Indiana's First State Capital. After Vincennes, Corydon was the second capital of the Indiana Territory from May 1, 1813, until December 11, 1816. After statehood, the town was the...
Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
, who was first elected to the Indiana General Assembly
Indiana General Assembly
The Indiana General Assembly is the state legislature, or legislative branch, of the state of Indiana. It is a bicameral legislature that consists of a lower house, the Indiana House of Representatives, and an upper house, the Indiana Senate...
as a state Senator in 1970, had long supported an improved highway linking to Interstate 64
Interstate 64
Interstate 64 is an Interstate Highway in the Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Its western terminus is at I-70, U.S. 40, and U.S. 61 in Wentzville, Missouri. Its eastern terminus is at an interchange with I-264 and I-664 at Bowers Hill in Chesapeake, Virginia. As I-64 is concurrent with...
. This position greatly endeared him to his constituents, who had long dealt with narrow, winding and somewhat dangerous two-lane highways connecting them to the rest of the state.
The Indiana 37/145 Association, which is made up of community and government leaders from Perry, Crawford, Orange and Lawrence counties, considered O'Bannon a strong ally in getting better and faster access to Interstate 64
Interstate 64
Interstate 64 is an Interstate Highway in the Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Its western terminus is at I-70, U.S. 40, and U.S. 61 in Wentzville, Missouri. Its eastern terminus is at an interchange with I-264 and I-664 at Bowers Hill in Chesapeake, Virginia. As I-64 is concurrent with...
for their communities. Following his death, the Association lobbied the state of Indiana to name the highway in his memory.
Newest stretch of the road
On November 21, 2007, the last unfinished segment of the highway opened between St. Croix and Eckerty. The new portion, a 10 miles (16.1 km) stretch of highway numbered as Indiana 37, was built as a "super-two" roadway, matching the existing stretch of Indiana 37 to which it connects at Interstate 64Interstate 64
Interstate 64 is an Interstate Highway in the Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Its western terminus is at I-70, U.S. 40, and U.S. 61 in Wentzville, Missouri. Its eastern terminus is at an interchange with I-264 and I-664 at Bowers Hill in Chesapeake, Virginia. As I-64 is concurrent with...
, as well as that of Indiana 64
Indiana State Road 64
State Road 64 in the U.S. State of Indiana is an east–west highway that crosses most of the southern portion of the state, covering a distance of about .-Route description:...
and Indiana 145
Indiana State Road 145
State Road 145 is a north–south road in the southwest portion of the U.S. State of Indiana.-Route description:State Road 145 begins at State Road 37 about to the northeast of Tell City, near the Perry County Municipal Airport. It runs north through the small towns of Bristow and Sassafras,...
which continue the route from Eckerty to French Lick.
Improvements to the various segments through the years
From BedfordBedford, Indiana
As of the census of 2000, there were 13,768 people, 6,054 households, and 3,644 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,157.1 people per square mile . There were 6,618 housing units at an average density of 556.2 per square mile...
to Indianapolis
Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
, Indiana 37 had been upgraded to four lanes by the early 1980s. South of Bedford, the road remained two lanes. This changed when the state widened an additional seven miles (11 km) of the highway from just south of Mitchell
Mitchell, Indiana
Mitchell is a city in Lawrence County, Indiana, United States. The population was 4,567 as of the 2000 census.It is the birthplace of astronaut Gus Grissom, who flew on Liberty Bell 7, Gemini 3, and died in a launch pad fire at Kennedy Space Center in 1967....
to the west junction with U.S. 50 south of Bedford to four lanes.
From Paoli
Paoli, Indiana
Paoli is a town in Paoli Township, Orange County, Indiana, United States. The population was 3,844 at the 2000 census. The town is the county seat of Orange County.-History:...
to Mitchell, the road is still a two-lane facility, but it is in relatively good condition and congestion is seldom an issue. However, traffic in Paoli itself is forced to negotiate the town square, which generally resembles a roundabout
Roundabout
A roundabout is the name for a road junction in which traffic moves in one direction around a central island. The word dates from the early 20th century. Roundabouts are common in many countries around the world...
. From Paoli to the south and west, the highways (Indiana 37, Indiana 56 and U.S. 150) are narrow and winding.
Orange County's tourist boom may necessitate more improvements
Orange CountyOrange County, Indiana
As of the census of 2000, there were 19,306 people, 7,621 households, and 5,342 families residing in the county. The population density was 48 people per square mile . There were 8,348 housing units at an average density of 21 per square mile...
, which has a storied history—illegal gambling flourished along with the mineral springs in the early years of the 20th century in West Baden and French Lick -- is in the midst of a tourism rebirth. The new French Lick Resort Casino
French Lick Resort Casino
French Lick Resort is a resort complex located in the towns of West Baden and French Lick, Indiana. The complex includes two historic resort spa hotels, stables, a casino and three golf courses, all part of a $500 million restoration and development project....
and the restoration of both the French Lick Springs Hotel
French Lick Springs Hotel
The French Lick Springs Hotel is a historic resort hotel complex, now a part of the French Lick Resort Casino.The location was originally known as the French Lick Springs Hotel, a grand resort that catered to those who came to partake of the advertised healing properties of the town's sulfur...
and West Baden Springs Hotel
West Baden Springs Hotel
The West Baden Springs Hotel is a historic landmark hotel in the town of West Baden Springs in Orange County, Indiana, United States, known for its vast domed atrium. It is currently part of the French Lick Resort...
have drawn many thousands of visitors. In addition, during the winter months, Ski Paoli Peaks, a popular snow-skiing park in Paoli, also draws thousands of tourists.
With additional people on the roads, Orange County officials and the Indiana 37/145 Association (see below) are seeking to have the state make more improvements to the Indiana 56/U.S. 150 leg of the highway.
Future considerations
The Indiana 37/145 Association continues to lobby for improvements to Indiana 56 and U.S. 150 from French Lick to Paoli. Aside from spot improvements at intersections and bridges, the Indiana Department of TransportationIndiana Department of Transportation
The Indiana Department of Transportation is a governmental agency of the U.S. state of Indiana charged with maintaining and regulating transportation and transportation related infrastructure such as state owned airports, state highways and state owned canals or railroads.-Districts:INDOT is...
(INDOT) does not plan to make major changes to that segment. The first of the improvements are set for construction in 2009. The Association continues to lobby for the original plan—making 56 and 150 into a "super-two" -- as traffic generated by the new French Lick Resort Casino
French Lick Resort Casino
French Lick Resort is a resort complex located in the towns of West Baden and French Lick, Indiana. The complex includes two historic resort spa hotels, stables, a casino and three golf courses, all part of a $500 million restoration and development project....
was not taken into consideration when the plan was scrapped by INDOT.
A by-pass of Paoli, which has been tentatively numbered as Indiana 237
Indiana State Road 237
Indiana State Road 237 in the U.S. state of Indiana is a discontinuous route in Perry and Crawford counties.- Southern section :The Perry County segment of SR 237, which connects to SR 37 about northeast of Tell City, Indiana, provides access to Hawesville, Kentucky, via the Bob Cummings - Lincoln...
, is one of the state's Major Moves
Major Moves
Major Moves is a studio album by American country music artist Hank Williams, Jr. It was released by Warner Bros. Records in May 1984. "Attitude Adjustment," "All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight" and the title track were released as singles...
projects scheduled to begin construction in 2012. This segment of 237 will likely become part of the Frank O'Bannon Highway.