The Louisville community has waited for over ten years for at least one knew bridge connecting Louisville to Southern Indiana.
From leisure vacationers, to commuters and the commercial trucking industry, the need for a new bridge has never been greater. The closure of the Sherman Minton Bridge has not helped the daily, almost hourly gridlocks, adding more congestion to Interstate 65.
The Louisville and Southern Indiana Bridges Authority is close to finalizing the financial burden, a total of $2.6 billion for the Ohio River Bridges Project.
Indiana will pay for the East End Bridge and be responsible for the building of that bridge. Kentucky will pay for the Louisville Downtown Bridge. The downtown bridge will include an overhaul of Spaghetti Junction, including a reconfiguration of the Kennedy Bridge, Interstate 65. Spaghetti Unction is in the heart of downtown Louisville, connecting three interstates: 71, 65 and 64.
Commercial trucks traveling from the south heading towards St. Louis or Chicago are feeling the congestion and delaying deliveries.
Indiana has already built the State I 265 which will connect to the East End Bridge. On the Kentucky side the Commonwealth will have to finish the Kentucky’s I 265 which currently ends in Prospect.
Unfortunately there will be tolls, which will impact consumers and businesses alike. Louisvillians visit Southern Indiana for jet skis, ATVs, and other unique retailers, but will those individuals be willing to pay a toll each way to visit a retailer they may find on the Kentucky side of the river. Hoosiers come to Louisville for the larger selection of shopping will find have to pay a toll just for leisurely shopping. Businesses on both sides of the river have concerns with the tolls. A task force has been developed, Just Say No to Bridge Tolls Group.
The cost for the tolls is still under discussion, but to date an amount between $0.50 and $3.00 has been discussed.
A target date for completion is scheduled for 2018. The last step before the project can move forward is for the Ky. General Assembly to approve the new bridges plan. Indiana doesn’t require approval other than Governor Mitch Daniel’s executive order.
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