The Ohio River Bridges Project of Kentucky and Indiana

Bridges Project Names Bridge Type Selection Committee

November 2006 -- The states of Kentucky and Indiana have announced the committee that will select the final bridge types for the new Downtown and East End bridges. This morning, the committee met for the first time to review the final six bridge type alternatives - three for each location - and discuss the decision-making process.

The 14-member committee includes Governors Fletcher and Daniels, Representatives Northup and Sodrel, Mayor Abramson, Clark County Commissioner Meyer, Secretary Nighbert, Commissioner Sharp and six citizens appointed by the elected officials. (See below for the full committee list.)

The Bridge Type Selection Committee will make the final decision on which bridge type will be selected for each location. Feedback that was received from the public throughout the Bridge Type Selection process will be considered, along with detailed information about impacts to historic resources, long-term maintenance and constructability, among other things.

To inform the committee for its decision-making process, the members were provided with an in-depth report for each bridge location, which provide details on the entire bridge type selection process, a thorough analysis of each of the final six bridge type alternatives and the public input received.

Following the selection of the bridge type, each bridge design team will spend the next 18 months completing design work. This phase will include additional public involvement. Discussions with the community will focus on aesthetic features such as lighting, colors and textures.

The Downtown and East End Bridge consultant teams, led by Michael Baker, Jr. Inc. and Parsons Brinckerhoff Quade and Douglas, respectively, began the four-step Bridge Type Selection process in May of last year. Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Indiana Department of Transportation and Federal Highway Administration officials and Community Transportation Solutions, the general engineering consultant, provided oversight of the process.

Public input received from stakeholder groups and public meetings, through comment forms and from the project Web site, has been used throughout the process to develop and narrow the bridge alternatives considered for each location.

The final three bridge types for the Downtown Bridge include a three-span thru arch, a single-tower cable-stayed and a three-tower cable stayed bridge.

Possible bridge types for the East End Bridge include a diamond tower cable-stayed bridge, a median-tower cable-stayed bridge with outside cables and a median-tower cable-stayed with center cables. (Details about the bridge types are included in an attached fact sheet.)

All of the final bridge types meet the necessary safety requirements, engineering standards, Coast Guard navigational requirements, environmental standards and project budget parameters.

For more information on the final six bridge type alternatives, go to the project Web site, www.kyinbridges.com.

Executive Bridge Type Selection Committee Members