The Indianapolis Star from Indianapolis, Indiana • Page B7

THEINDIANAPOLISSTAR WWW.INDYSTAR.COM 3RD B7 plan sets timetables for more than 200 road projects. Those projects not including maintenance will cost a cumulative $5.2 billion over the next decade. The spending blueprint books a third of the construction total, about $1.5 billion, in the final two years. In contrast, the first two years call for $400 million in road building. In recent years, Indiana has spent about $250 million for road buildingannually.

Moreover, plan includes less than half of the full $2billion cost of building the new I-69. Officials hope to finish that project around 2018, three years beyond the 10-year window Daniels fashioned in his plan. Budget analysts say it is typical for the latter years of a capital budget to contain the biggest chunks of spending. But the sharp increases in the later part of plan have raised questions among Democrats about whether the expectations are merely a smoke- and-mirrors answer to the road budget deficit. a reason that previous governors made the plans they Bauer said.

was a vision of where things could go if the revenue was The Daniels administration was able to balance costs in 2006 and 2007 only by moving the bulk of the work to the next decade. Transportation planners say the success hinges upon generating as much as $3 billion over the next 10 years. Democratic leaders applaud Daniels for tackling the road funding issue, which has grown more severe in recent years as gasoline tax revenues have failed to keep pace with needs. But those leaders say the numbers show a budget plan that hinges almost exclusively on the success of the privatization push. Daniels wants to lease tolling and concession rights on the Indiana Toll Road and a yet-to-be-built stretch of I-69.

Those plans will require General Assembly approval. Proposed increases on the Indiana Toll Road are expected to help, as well. However, the bulk of that money is expected to go toward road improvements in Northern Indiana and along the Toll Road itself. With lawmakers next year facing re-election and a short legislative session, the political prospects of the proposals are far from certain. Dennis E.

Faulkenberg, a prominent road lobbyist, said he was impressed at the timetable as long as the money is found. they are proposing looks pretty bold to he said. sounds like a long time, but (10 years is) pretty quick in road- building Call Star reporter Theodore Kim at (317) 444-6247. Road Price tag of proposed projects exceeds $5 billion. obviously all subject to review.

But what a long-range plan Senate President Pro Tempore Robert Garton, R-Columbus. NEXT Gov. recently proposed 10-year road-building plan is dependent upon the ability to generate additional revenue by privatizing the Indiana Toll Road and a yet-to-be-built stretch of I-69. The plan, which requires legislative approval, is expected to be voted on during the General Assembly session that begins in January. State transportation planners hope to finalize their plan in the spring.

Here are some of the projects on the books for Central Indiana: Adding new lanes to I-465 on South- westside. This project will get under way in early 2008 and be built over a time rather than in a shorter time span envisioned by previous administrations. Upgrades on U.S. 31be- tween Indianapolis and South Bend. For years, the state has considered upgrading U.S.

31 from a four-lane highway to an interstate-quality road in three areas: in Hamilton County, around Kokomo and just south of South Bend. During the years, construction was expected to begin on these segments within several years, with the Hamilton section under way sometime after 2010. Under plan, that section will be delayed until at least 2015. Adding lanes to I-69 north of Indianapolis and in Hamilton County. This congested stretch was slated for expansion sometime around 2013.

The effort now has been pushed back to at least 2015. By Nick Werner MUNCIE, Ind. A couple who cut the cast off an injured toddler to avoid raising questions from child welfare investigators now face felony neglect charges. During the past two to three months, the 2-year-old suffered a broken leg, two black eyes and bruises on her face, ear, legs, sides and back, and received five stitches in her head, according to court documents. The stepfather, Aaron J.

Conwell, 20, and her mother, Thurma V. Benson Conwell, 18, both of Muncie, have been in jail since their Oct. 5 arrest and are scheduled for initial hearings at 9a.m. Monday in Delaware Circuit Court. Thurma Conwell faces a charge of neglect of a dependent resulting in serious bodily injury, a Class felony carrying a standard 10-year prison term.

Aaron Conwell faces three counts of battery resulting in serious bodily injury and neglect of a dependent resulting in serious bodily injury, all Class felonies. Police and Child Protection Services investigators were checking on the welfare Oct. 5 at the Conwell home when they found her with two black eyes and bruises across her body. The girl was taken to Ball Memorial Hospital, where she was treated and released, and her mother and stepfather were arrested. Aaron Conwell told an investigator he hit his stepdaughter on at least two occasions, according to a probable cause affidavit.

Once was when she got into his desk drawer and another came when he was fixing a table and she kept calling, Thurma Conwell said in a police interview that she knew her husband struck her daughter but tell anybody, according to her probable cause affidavit. She also admitted to holding her daughter while Aaron Conwell cut a cast off the leg with pliers and a knife. Police said the couple cut the cast off in an effort to avoid raising the suspicions of welfare investigators. The couple married in July, according to county court records. parents charged Mother, stepfather faces felony counts after, officials say, they cut off cast Star report The television 16-year run will come to an end with its final Saturday evening broadcast Nov.

19. Yet, one last $1million Grand Finale will be shown in December, at a time and date yet to be decided, Hoosier Lottery officials said in a news release Friday. The Hoosier Lottery has seen a drop in viewers and a decline in player interest for years in the Hoosier Millionaire scratch-off ticket, the revenue of which supported the show and the prizes awarded, the lottery said. scratch-off ticket sales have increased dramatically over the past five years, Hoosier Millionaire sales have declined from over $45 million in 2001to less than $20 million in the lot- tery added. The lottery said it would now concentrate on new products.

In recent years, has been telecast in the Indianapolis area on WXIN (Channel 59). Previously, the show was on WTTV (Channel 4). The Hoosier Millionaire scratch-off game will end Oct. 22. Cash prizes must be redeemed by the close of the business day Dec.

21. Mail-in entries for seats on the Grand Finale show must be received by the lottery by Dec. 21. Automatic seat entries must be redeemed by that date. The entry drawing will be Dec.

22. Both entry winners and automatic seat winners will compete for the $1million grand prize during the Grand Finale. signing off Nov. 19 Assistant managing editor, local news: Neill Borowski, (317) 444-6235, neill.borowski@indystar.com Metropolitan editor: Blair Claflin, (317) 444-6385, blair.claflin@indystar.com Suburban editor: Kevin Morgan, (317) 444-6292, kevin.morgan@indystar.com LOCAL NEWS CONTACTS.