Kennedy Interchange
May 2007 - Work is steadily progressing on the design of the new Kennedy Interchange. Kentucky Transportation Associates (KTA), the section design team, recently submitted Mid-Level Plans for review by Community Transportation Solutions and the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. This means that the design is about 45 percent complete and plans indicating what property will be needed for right-of-way access and construction work are not far off. The plans show the footprint, or outline, of the new interchange.
Significant progress has been made on designing the aesthetics of the interchange. The shape of the piers and materials to be used on the underside of the roadway has been established and approved by the Bi-State Management Team (BSMT). Motorists and pedestrians will see elliptically shaped piers with many locations having integral pier caps that are not as visible as a traditional cap. Usage of this type of pier cap will allow KTA to utilize fewer piers throughout the interchange. This pier shape and cap were preferred by the Kentucky Historic Preservation Advisory Team and the Area Advisory Team for the Kennedy Interchange.
Underneath the roadway, KTA is utilizing steel and concrete box girders. This creates a smooth, uncluttered view and eliminates roosting spots for birds. The clean look of the boxes was favored by stakeholder groups and the public. Another recommendation of the stakeholder groups approved by the BSMT includes the selection of interstate lighting and signage design. The supports feature a rounded shape and, where possible, the lights for either side of the highway will come from a shared pole in the median. Read More »
November 2006 - Selection of the final two bridge types may be grabbing the headlines these days but members of the Regional Advisory Committee (RAC) learned recently that significant progress has been made in the two Kentucky approach design sections. The RAC is charged with advising the project on matters impacting the Louisville-Southern Indiana region.
Design engineers from the Kennedy Interchange and Kentucky East End Approach sections reported on work in their respective sections and provided a look at planned activity. Mitigation measures, aesthetic design guidelines and traffic impacts were among the highlights of the Oct. 26 meeting. Read More »
November 2006 - Engineers from the Ohio River Bridges Project’s largest design section have compiled data that could significantly impact design plans for the reconstruction of the Kennedy Interchange. The Kennedy Interchange Approach design team reported these findings to members of its Area Advisory Team (AAT) recently at the Frazier International History Museum. Mellwood-Story Avenue, Waterfront Park, noise studies and the I-65 accelerated construction section were key topics at the Oct. 26 meeting. Read More »
March 2006 - Design engineers working on the Kennedy Interchange rebuild must take into account the historic and environmental context of neighborhoods such as Butchertown and Phoenix Hill as they redesign Spaghetti Junction.
Urban design guidelines, recently approved by the Bi-State Management Team, have been developed to serve as reference tools for the Kennedy Interchange, the largest component of the Ohio River Bridges Project. These guidelines will help engineers and architects achieve a context-sensitive redesign of Spaghetti Junction. Read More »
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