POSEY COUNTY, Ind. - Earlier today, Indiana Department of Transportation Commissioner Mike Smith was joined by industry partners to break ground on a $39.9 million project to reconstruct the Black River Welcome Center located near MM 7 on I-64 eastbound in Posey County.

The new welcome center will feature design elements and interactive exhibits that highlight southern Indiana as well as the boyhood home of President Abraham Lincoln. Upon completion in 2025, visitors will also be able to enjoy a children’s play area, adult recreation area, a walking path and a dog park.

"This new facility will give visitors a place to rest, recharge and learn more about the local history in southern Indiana," said INDOT Commissioner Mike Smith. "The goal is to give visitors a safe environment to take a break and also learn more about what the state of Indiana has to offer.”

Garmong Construction Services of Terre Haute is the prime contractor on the reconstruction project. The existing welcome center closed on Thursday, June 1. The new facility is scheduled to open in 2025.

INDOT is executing a 10-year plan to improve interstate rest areas and welcome centers statewide to modernize facilities, construct new buildings and improve parking for both passenger vehicles and large trucks. When completed, INDOT's improvement plan is projected to add more than 1,100 additional semi-trailer parking spaces to facilities statewide. INDOT plans call for an investment of over $600 million in improvements to 21 rest areas and welcome centers by the end of fiscal year 2030. More information about INDOT's long-term improvement plan is available here.

INDOT currently operates 26 rest area or welcome center facilities on Indiana's interstate highways across the state. Nine rest area locations have facilities on both sides of the interstate, and eight sites are located on only one side of the highway.