There’s a groundbreaking ceremony scheduled for tomorrow to kick off the long-awaited Interstate 69 project that will link Evansville to Indianapolis.

Because of recent protests and controversy surrounding the highway, the organizers of the celebration are closing the doors to the general public.

I’m sorry. What?

This is one of the most highly anticipated transportation projects in the history of Indiana, and you’re going to let a few tree-climbing crazies ruin it for everyone?

Dumb PR move, kids.

Here’s a suggestion: Throw out the invites, designate a protest area outside of the event facility, hire a bunch of off-duty police officers and fling open the doors to all Hoosiers.

Otherwise, you’re just reinforcing the notion that a few trespassers can cause government to clam up and shut down. That’s just silly

I respect the right of those who disagree with this project to protest it in a lawful manner, but if this project is what the people want, and after this long, you have to think it is, then by God, the people ought to get to see it christened.

It’s no big secret that the Guv is going to spend the next six months cutting ribbons on road construction projects funded by Major Moves, his decade-or-less transportation program funded by the 75-year lease of the Indiana Toll Road to a consortium of foreign companies.

Without a doubt, he’ll go into his best song and dance about how none of the projects would be possible without his brilliant, bold privatization plan. (Of course, plenty of folks will tell you that INDOT sat on piles of cash for the first two years of the Guv’s term, bottling up long-overdue projects and repairs. And then there’s the small matter of the cities and towns that have found out over the past year that projects they expected to be funded either have been canceled or delayed due to lack of funds. Details, details.)

Today, we get word that the Carmel roundabouts are coming. Rejoice! Hallelujah! Another awesome construction project made possible by the Guv, who fast-tracked the roundabouts and gave the City of Carmel $50 million in Major Moves money to make them possible.

Oh, wait. Hang on a second. Let’s go back to the headline on the story about this project: “Construction To Grind North-Side Commute.”

Well, that doesn’t sound so great. How long is this going to take?

Three intersections — 99th, 106th and 126th streets — will be closed through Dec. 1 as construction workers undertake the first phase of the Carmel Link project.

Ooooh. The election is still in early November, right?

Rhetorical questions aside, my point is this: Road construction projects may make for good campaign talking points, but they don’t necessarily make for good campaigns. People like the end result of fresh asphalt and wide lanes, but they don’t like sitting in gridlock and having to get up earlier to make it to work on time.

The Guv, in selling off the Toll Road, banked on voters not caring that he traded away a valuable state asset for a short-term pile of cash. (They did and still do care, but that’s beside the point at hand.) Now he’s going to try to make the case that we should all sit back and be patient as we wait for these long-term projects to take shape.

Anyone else see the irony?

Something tells yours truly that voters might not react as favorably as he thinks they will to all those red lights and orange cones between now and November.