Preliminary Peek at Potential I-69 Bridge Project
(Graphics courtesy of the I-69 Ohio River Crossing Project Team.)
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowThe preliminary alternative routes for three potential I-69 bridge corridors over the Ohio River have been unveiled. Transportation officials from Indiana and Kentucky are continuing to seek feedback on the proposals that have taken into account factors including access, traffic performance and safety. Funding is expected to come from a combination of tolling, traditional sources and grants.
Other considerations include: minimizing or avoiding the impact on sensitive resources, accessibility and visibility to the U.S. 41 corridor, life-cycle maintenance cost estimates for I-69 and U.S. 41 bridges, adjusted cost estimates to year of expenditure and use of traffic models to evaluate cross-river capacity needs. Officials say alternatives must also include six lanes of cross-river traffic and at least four lanes dedicated to I-69 use.
The three proposed alternatives are titled: West Alternative 1, West Alternative 2 and Central Alternative 1 and the Indiana Department of Transportation and Kentucky Transportation Cabinet say they will "provide the best opportunity to be financially feasible and address the purpose and need of the project."
- West Alternative 1 is estimated to cost $1.47 billion. The proposal calls for a 4-lane I-69 bridge and a U.S. 41 bridge for local traffic, as well as a reconstructed U.S. 60 interchange and new Watson Lane and U.S. 41/Veterans Memorial Parkway interchanges.
- West Alternative 2 is estimated to cost $1.49 billion. The proposal calls for a 6-lane I-69 bridge and would take away the two current U.S. 41 bridges and include a reconstructed U.S. 60 interchange and new Watson Lane, Wolf Hills/Stratman Road, Nugent Drive and U.S. 41/Veterans Memorial Parkway interchanges.
- Central Alternative 1 is estimated to cost $1.42 billion. The proposal calls for a 4-lane I-69 bridge and use of one U.S. 41 bridge for local traffic, as well as new U.S. 41, U.S. 60 and Veterans Memorial Parkway interchanges.
Officials expect to pick a preferred alternative by the fall.
The I-69 Ohio River Crossing Project Team has provided materials outlining the proposed alternatives:
Open houses February 6 at Henderson Community College and February 7 at Bosse High School in Evansville have been scheduled to discuss the preliminary routes with leaders of the efforts. You can connect to more about those events by clicking here.