Ohio River Bridges Project

The US Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has broken ground on the $1.3bn Downtown Crossing – the second half of the Ohio River Bridges project.

Scheduled to be completed in late 2016, the project involves the construction of a new bridge that widens I-65 from seven to 12 lanes over the Ohio River in downtown Louisville and the reconstruction of Kennedy Interchange where I-64, I-65, and I-71 converge.

The new bridge and its counterpart in Louisville’s East End will be the region’s first new bridges in more than 50 years.

US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said: "This new bridge, and its East End counterpart, will create jobs and provide more transportation options for one of America’s most important trade corridors."

Federal Highway Administrator Victor Mendez said: "By reducing congestion, these bridge projects not only create jobs but will allow local residents to spend more time with friends and family."

"The new bridge and its counterpart in Louisville’s East End will be the region’s first new bridges in more than 50 years."

The Ohio River Bridges Project, a joint effort between Kentucky and Indiana, is expected to improve traffic safety and substantially lower traffic congestion between southern Indiana and Louisville, and will help around 100,000 drivers every day.

Planning for the project started in 1969, and works on the East End Crossing began in autumn last year.

The programme was approved by the federal authorities in June 2012, and was originally estimated to cost $4.1bn but later revised to $2.6bn.

The new bridge will almost double the traffic capacity of the river crossing and considerably lower the time and cost required to ship US products through the Louisville metropolitan area.

Image: The new bridge and its counterpart in Louisville’s East End will be the region’s first new bridges in nearly 50 years.