Indiana and Kentucky are seeking federal money to advance the I-69 bridge project. WNIN’s John Gibson has details:
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear announced the two states are jointly applying for a $632 million federal grant for the Interstate 69 Ohio River Crossing.
Beshear says his administration has pledged to “seek and compete for every available federal dollar” for what he calls a “long-needed project.”
The Indiana Department of Transportation and the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet submitted the application for funding through the Multimodal Discretionary Grant Program. It was created as part of the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
The two states propose putting up nearly $514 million from other funding sources if the grant is approved.
The states already have obligated $265 million toward environmental studies and construction of the first section of the bridge in Henderson.
The project calls for a four-lane toll bridge east of the existing Twin Bridges.
The new span connecting Evansville and Henderson is slated to open in 2031.
Officials have proposed demolishing one of the Twin Bridges and using the other as a two-lane link for local traffic.