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Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement
On November 10, 2011, the Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement (SDEIS) for the Louisville-Southern Indiana Ohio River Bridges Project was approved by the Federal Highway Administration, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and the Indiana Department of Transportation. The SDEIS was launched as a result of significant cost-saving proposals, as well as plans to utilize tolling to help meet revenue shortfalls. The cost-saving proposals approved in the SDEIS include:
- Reconstructing the Kennedy Interchange in its current location
- Removing the pedestrian/bicycle lane from the Downtown Bridge
- Reducing the lanes on the East End portion of the project
- Eliminating flyover ramps plus other design changes on the Indiana interstate approach to the newly expanded I-65 bridges
Public hearings were held on December 19 and 20, 2011, which were attended by hundreds of interested citizens providing input on the proposed changes. The Project is preparing responses to all public comments and is working on the Supplemental Final Environmental Impact Statement (SFEIS), which is expected to be completed in the spring of 2012.
Louisville and Southern Indiana Bridges Authority
In 2009, a bi-state governmental agency was created for the purpose of developing a financial plan for the project. The Louisville and Southern Indiana Bridges Authority, which held its first meeting in February 2010, operates in consultation with, but separately from, the project's bistate management team.
The authority consists of 14 members from Indiana and Kentucky, as well as an executive director. Citizens from various professional backgrounds who have demonstrated leadership and community service serve on the panel. Seven were appointed by the governor of Indiana, three by the Kentucky governor and four by the Louisville mayor.
In February 2011, the authority, along with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and the Indiana Department of Transportation, hosted an industry forum to showcase the Ohio River Bridges Project and explore creative approaches to project development.
The Record of Decision
In Sept. 2003, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) issued a Record of Decision (ROD) officially approving the construction of two new Ohio River bridges linking Louisville and Southern Indiana, and reconstructing the Kennedy Interchange (Spaghetti Junction) where I-65, I-71 and I-64 converge near downtown Louisville.
The ROD was the final step in the Project's environmental review process. It represents FHWA's final decision about where and what to build, based upon recommendations from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and the Indiana Department of Transportation.
Several alternatives were studied to improve cross-river mobility. The option selected addresses transportation needs with the least amount of impact to the region's environmental resources and communities.
The decision was based on a thorough review that considered comments from thousands of area residents and findings from scientific analyses detailing the impacts of options on a variety of environmental resources, including communities. In late 2007, the project released its financial plan, available as a PDF download in the right-hand column of this page.
The Selected Alternative
- Downtown Bridge: Immediately east of the Kennedy Bridge
- East End Bridge: Connecting the Gene Snyder Freeway (KY 841) to the Lee Hamilton Highway (IN 265)
- Kennedy Interchange (Spaghetti Junction): Rebuild to the south
The Environmental Review
A Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) was published in Nov. 2001 analyzing nine specific bridge locations in one- and two-bridge combinations. Public hearings were held in Indiana and Kentucky, and more than 5,000 comments were received on the DEIS.
A Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) was issued in April 2003. This document identified the preferred alternative, responded to comments on the DEIS and included a plan to minimize impacts to historic properties and other resources. The commitments are legally binding. They were developed in consultation with community representatives who will stay involved and monitor work to help ensure commitments are fulfilled.