ELBERFELD, Ind. — The first short stretch of the Interstate 69 extension between Evansville and Indianapolis could be finished months ahead of schedule.

Work began last year on the about 2-mile segment between I-64 and Indiana 68 near Evansville and was expected to be completed in July 2010. But state highway department spokeswoman Cher Goodwin says traffic could be driving on it by the end of this year.

Goodwin tells the Evansville Courier & Press that no changes are planned for the highway’s specifications even though its expected cost has jumped by more than 80 percent.

State officials say inflation and other costs have caused the price of the 142-mile extension to climb to $3.1 billion from a $1.7 billion estimate made in 2003.