Project Newsroom
Kentucky issues Notice of Intent for project’s downtown phase
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet is seeking teams of contractors to design and build a new downtown Louisville bridge, a modernized downtown interchange and improved I-65 connections to Southern Indiana. The Cabinet has issued a notice of intent for the downtown portion of the Louisville-Southern Indiana Ohio River Bridges Project. This is the first step to procurement of Kentucky’s half of the project, a bi-state partnership with the State of Indiana to build two new bridges and enhance interstate connections that will improve safety, congestion and mobility for the region. Contractor teams from around the region, nation and world are invited to attend a pre-bid meeting beginning at 10 a.m. EST on Thursday, March 1, at the Kentucky International Convention Center in Louisville. Kentucky plans to award a design-build contract by October 2012 and anticipates construction to be complete by June 2018.
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Dec. 29, 2011 - Kentucky and Indiana have reached consensus on a basic plan to finance and build the Ohio River Bridges Project, keeping the project on target to begin construction in 2012.
Under an agreement in principle reached by Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear, Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels and leaders of the Louisville and Southern Indiana Bridges Authority, each state would take the lead in financing and overseeing construction of one half of the project, among the largest transportation projects in the United States. Read More »
November 2011 - An updated environmental review recommends a cost-saving approach for building two new bridges and rebuilding the downtown Louisville interchange – setting the stage for construction to begin next year.
The cost-saving approach recommended for study in January by Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear, Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels and Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer would reduce the project cost by an estimated $1.2 billion. The approach, evaluated over the past 9 months, is the preferred alternative in the federally approved Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement (SDEIS). Read More »
June 2011 - The cost of the Ohio River Bridges Project could be reduced by at least $1.2 billion with changes such as those recommended earlier this year by Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear, Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels and Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer, an in-depth analysis by the Bi-State Management Team has concluded.
"We are committed on both sides of the river to build these bridges as quickly as we can, at the lowest cost possible," Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear said. "The project team's detailed analysis showing a much higher estimated savings is great news for our citizens. I'm excited about the project's continued momentum and the enormous beneficial impact it will have for our communities." Read More »
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - (April 6, 2011) The Ohio River Bridges Project will host a series of public meetings as part of the year-long federal review process necessary before construction work can begin on two new bridges and rebuilding the downtown Louisville interchange.
Eight meetings will be scheduled in June as part of the federally prescribed process known as a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS), which will study changes and environmental effects not considered during the original review, said Bridges Project Manager John Sacksteder. Read More »
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - (April 1, 2011) Directional horizontal drilling is underway in eastern Jefferson County, Ky., where workers are gathering geotechnical data needed for construction of a pair of 2,000-foot-long tunnels, which are part of the Louisville-Southern Indiana Ohio River Bridges Project. This unique and cost-effective method for gathering data will help engineering firms and contractors submit accurate bids when it's time to let the tunnels.
Each drill bit is four inches in diameter and 10-feet long. The head of the bit is controlled by a computer, allowing it to make gentle turns in various directions. The drill rig is set up several hundred feet from the face of the proposed tunnel on the east side of U.S. 42. There will be three borings going under U.S. 42 and the historic Drumanard Estate and extending approximately 2,000 feet to near the exit points of the twin tunnels. The process is expected to take four to six months. Read More »
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