Kennedy Interchange Design to Preserve, Enhance Downtown Waterfront
February 2006 -- Acceptance of the Kennedy Interchange alternative – a result of the Waterfront Park Reduction Study -- means the redesign of Downtown Louisville’s “Spaghetti Junction” will feature key elements aimed at minimizing the impact to nearby Waterfront Park.
Preservation of the city’s downtown waterfront has been a major consideration throughout the design process and guided the decision by Louisville-Southern Indiana Ohio River Bridges Project officials to “build in” important mitigating factors. The selected design alternative was endorsed by the Bi-State Management Team after careful consideration of feedback from public meetings, Metro government and the community at-large. The alternative features include:
• The reduction of traffic lanes over Waterfront Park. The alternative selected reduced the number of lanes to be added from 12 to 9, minimizing the spread of concrete pavement over the Great Lawn.
• An increase in the height of the roadway and reduction in the number of piers located in the Great Lawn to improve the view.
• The elimination of the Third Street exit ramp to accommodate the minimized lanes.
• The improvement of pedestrian access to Waterfront Park.
• The addition of a new I-71/I-64 off-ramp at River Road, east of the Great Lawn.
“The Kennedy Interchange redesign is the largest single component of the Bridges Project,” said Glen Kelly, project manager for the Kennedy Interchange section. “Given its potential impact, I think the philosophy taken by the project’s officials – to preserve and enhance the city’s downtown waterfront – is very commendable and should be a model for other communities facing similar challenges and opportunities.”
Officially, construction on the Kennedy Interchange is scheduled to begin in 2007, though advanced construction on five freeway overpasses on I-65 between Broadway and Liberty could begin later this year. (Federal Highway Administration approval of the alternative is contingent upon a supplement to the Interchange Justification Report.)
Design plans for Spaghetti Junction have also taken into account the preservation of historic neighborhoods, such as Butchertown and Phoenix Hill. Historic Preservation Plans for Butchertown and Phoenix Hill will be completed later this year. Access for traffic passing through these neighborhoods will be improved, as will access to the riverfront.