PLAINFIELD, Ind. (WLKI)- Indiana motorists will soon see new highway signs recognizing the 250th anniversary of the United States.
Gov. Mike Braun unveiled the first commemorative Freedom 250 sign Friday at an Interstate 70 rest area near Plainfield.
According to the governor's office, the Indiana Department of Transportation plans to install 20 signs along Interstate 70 and U.S. 30 over the next week. The signs will remain in place through the end of 2027.
The project is a partnership involving INDOT, the U.S. Department of Transportation and the White House Freedom 250 initiative.
The signs are part of a national celebration marking 250 years since the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.
"For generations, Indiana's highways have served as a central hub connecting Americans to family, communities, businesses and opportunities across our nation," Braun said. "As we celebrate 250 years of American freedom, these signs are a fitting tribute to Indiana's proud legacy as the Crossroads of America."
The markers also recognize two significant anniversaries in American transportation history.
The Interstate Highway System is celebrating its 70th anniversary. President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the Federal-Aid Highway Act in 1956, establishing the modern interstate network.
The signs will also recognize the 100th anniversary of the Lincoln Highway. U.S. 30 follows portions of the historic highway, which became the country's first transcontinental road.
Indiana Secretary of Transportation and Infrastructure Matt Ubelhor described Interstate 70 and U.S. 30 as historically significant routes traveled by thousands of residents and visitors each day.
I-70 crosses central Indiana and connects communities including Terre Haute, Indianapolis and Richmond. U.S. 30 passes through northern Indiana, including areas near Fort Wayne, Warsaw, Plymouth, Valparaiso and Merrillville.
Other states are installing similar signs and flags through the federal Freedom Moves You campaign. The effort is part of the White House's broader commemoration of the nation's semiquincentennial.
Braun said Indiana's central location and transportation network make the state a fitting participant in the national campaign.
"You can reach more commerce in two days of ground transportation from our great state than any other place in the country," Braun said. "We are the center of the world's economy."
Hundreds of other events and programs have been planned across Indiana to commemorate the anniversary.
A bipartisan state commission is coordinating celebrations designed to highlight Indiana's role in American history.