This fall, one of the most highly anticipated days in Delphi’s history happened: the new highway opened. Finally, people had a new, safe way to get to Lafayette.
The Hoosier Heartland Highway (HHH) enables travel from Delphi to Lafayette in roughly fifteen minutes. Great for saving on gas and time. Everyone talks about how it will be great for business in Delphi. But is this really the case?
“It will turn it into a ghost town because it only hits the outskirts of the town,” said senior Brandon Short, “and there is nothing that catches your eye enough for a random stop in.”
Austin Coker, senior, said, “We live in a time where efficiency is everything. So who would stop in Delphi when you can bypass it and save five minutes? We’ll become like Radiator Springs in Cars.”
“Travelers won’t be passing through Delphi anymore; therefore, they won’t be stopping at any of the businesses. They will pass right by Delphi, especially due to its lack of business,” said senior Mariah Mccauslin.
Others believe that it will greatly improve Delphi’s economy. They think more people will wish to invest in Delphi because of its strategic location right off the new highway.
Junior Brock Giddons said, “I think it would add to the amount of business because of all the extra people passing through Delphi to get on the Heartland.”
Some of the local businesses are wondering how the HHH will affect their own businesses.
“Pizza King hopes to not be affected because we have a great group of loyal community customers,” said Tracy Martin and Tracy Bradshaw, owners of Delphi’s T&T Pizza King. “We might lose a little of the Purdue traffic, but we really love and appreciate the small town regulars that we have.”
Although they hope to keep a small town feel, the new “Stellar Community” grant planners hope otherwise. With plans for Opera House renovations, a Bed and Breakfast, and other additions, hopes are high that the new highway will bring many newcomers.
“The placing of the new highway has a lot of open land around it. It also has the Indiana Packers Corporation right by it. So I think they will want to open more businesses and make more jobs for the Delphi Community,” said sophomore Josh Gillam.
DCHS students can only speculate, but what do the experts say.
“Unlimited economic development opportunities open up because of the Hoosier Heartland Highway being a limited access highway,” said Mayor Randy Strasser.
Eventually, only time will tell what the new highway does for Delphi area business. However, one fact is already determined, the efficiency that the Hoosier Heartland provides cannot be denied.
