By Chance Walser
Kirksville, IN (WRTV/CNN) - A major road construction project in southern Indiana is upsetting a group of nudists.
They say the freeway extension will ruin their peaceful haven.
Barbara Perdue puts her clothes on to do the yard work. For her, getting dressed is the exception as much as the rule.
"You just feel free and that's the way God put us on this earth," said Perdue.
She is a self-proclaimed nudist. She has been coming to the Monroe County Nudist Campground for 13 years. She, along with many of the grounds' 200 members, are concerned right now that an INDoT project to expand Interstate 69 will threaten their way of life.
"People come through that gate, they come in to relax. They don't want to hear tractor and trailers and cars and things flying up and down the highway," said Perdue.
This week INDoT awarded the last of three contracts to crews that will eventually take the interstate right along the Fern Hills Club property.
"This is a community grounds here," said the club's attorney, Jawn Bauer.
Bauer says privacy for residents is a concern, and you might think exposure to the outside world is the biggest issue, but it's not.
"This is a little piece of heaven here. People love it. It's a way to get away from all the noise of the cities and the hustle and bustle and all of the stress and so that can be ruined quite easily by the drone of 18 wheelers coming up the grade here," said Bauer.
INDoT looked at the idea of putting up cement walls to block highway sound, but federal regulations won't allow it. Natural barriers like trees and shrubbery could be an option.
Both sides are exploring that now in an attempt to provide cover for those who usually prefer it as an option.
Members of the nudist club say they're pretty much resolved to the idea that a road will be built right in their backyard.
They say they're working with the state to find a solution to the noise problems that will come with building a new highway.
WRTV/CNN