Questions & Answers

Here are a few frequently asked questions and their answers about the Ohio River Bridges Project:

Why do we need two new bridges and a rebuild of Spaghetti Junction?

What happens if we try to build something different?

Why is the project taking so long?

What progress has been made already?

What about funding?

When will the project be completed?

How does this affect me? I rarely cross the river or go through Spaghetti Junction.

Why do we need two new bridges and a rebuild of Spaghetti Junction? Why not just build the east end bridge or the downtown bridge?

The federal study on the region’s cross-river transportation needs concluded that two new bridges and a rebuild of Spaghetti Junction was the only option to adequately address congestion and safety problems for the long term.

By the time the single bridge could be completed, congestion levels would already have outgrown it.

Louisville already ranks third worst among mid-sized cities in the country for congestion, according to the most recent analysis by the Texas Traffic Institute.

What happens if we try to build something different?

The two bridges and Spaghetti Junction rebuild was approved by Kentucky and Indiana state transportation agencies and the Federal Highway Administration as one project, meaning every element needs to move forward or none at all.

Why is the project taking so long?

The project is one of the nation’s largest transportation projects. It is also listed in a Presidential decree as one of the nation’s priority transportation projects.

Federal laws require a thorough analysis of impacts on traffic, environment and communities before a decision can be made on what and where to build.

What progress has been made already?

Since 2003, when state and federal transportation agencies authorized the project, more than $100 million has been spent, primarily on designing the new bridges and construction approaches. Through a public involvement process, the general design and look of the new bridges was determined. Work continues on design details addressing lighting, color and materials.

Sample pier drillings in the river have already been completed for both new bridges. In addition, each state has purchased some right-of-way.

A new interchange in Kentucky at U.S. 42 and the Gene Snyder Freeway was built and opened in 2007 as part of the new east end bridge approach.

What about funding?

Kentucky’s share of the project’s cost is estimated at $2.9 billion and Indiana’s share is $1.1 billion. Indiana already has its funding, largely from revenue generated by the state’s lease of the Indiana Toll Road in Northern Indiana for $4 billion. Kentucky has allocated $185 million, funds that have largely been spent on design work. The 2008 Kentucky General Assembly is expected to address future funding for the project and other major transportation needs throughout the state. Across the country, states are increasingly relying on new sources of revenue to fund transportation needs as traditional highway fund dollars are falling short at federal and state levels.

When will the project be completed?

The current project schedule calls for the east end bridge to open in 2013, and the downtown bridge in 2019, with Spaghetti Junction completed in 2024. That schedule relies on pay-as-you-go traditional highway funding dollars.

With new sources of revenue, the schedule could be accelerated, resulting in significant savings on construction costs tied to inflation. An accelerated timeline would also mean the project’s enormous public benefits – including faster, safer travel and a stronger regional and statewide economy – could be realized sooner.

How does this affect me? I rarely cross the river or go through Spaghetti Junction.

The project is vital for the economy in the Louisville region especially, but also throughout Kentucky, Indiana, and the nation. Jobs are on the line and bridge and highway safety improvements are needed. Increasingly, the region is relying on the logistics industry as a key economic force.

The economic impact of the bridge and highway network is felt across Kentucky and Indiana. Thousands of employers and hundreds of thousands of people in both states depend on the bridges and connecting highways that form a pinch point in Louisville. These are businesses crucial to the economy such as UPS, Ford, Toyota, and many others. In a world of just-in-time deliveries, we all lose if our transportation network isn’t meeting safety standards and is plagued by congestion.

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