The Indiana Department of Transportation appeared in Dubois County Circuit Court yesterday seeking a temporary restraining order against property owners who have denied access for environmental surveys tied to the Mid-States Corridor project. Judge Nathan Verkamp heard testimony in a packed courtroom, where state attorneys argued that INDOT has the legal authority to enter private land for survey purposes. Property owners, represented by the Property Rights Alliance, pushed back, citing lack of proper notice and questioning the necessity of the surveys. Witnesses for the state testified the blocked access has delayed the project by over seven months and caused more than $50,000 in added costs. Judge Verkamp said he would take the matter under advisement and issue a decision soon. A full hearing on the state’s broader complaint is set for July 2.
