Ground is broken to start work on a new I-69 bridge from the Indiana side of the Ohio River. WNIN’s John Gibson has the story:
Governor Eric Holcomb, INDOT Commissioner Mike Smith, and Evansville Mayor Stephanie Terry were among the dignitaries who turned dirt in a farm field off Waterworks Road, near South Weinbach Ave.
It’s the spot where an approach to the new bridge will be built.
Gov. Holcomb stressed the importance of I-69:
"When I'm pitching Indiana, I'm constantly talking about this isn't just connecting three big cities, Evansville, Indianapolis and Fort Wayne, or three states. It's connecting two of our biggest trading partners globally. And that matters to companies."
INDOT Commissioner Smith talked about the immediate timeline:
"Substantive work will start here in the next couple of weeks. So, well see dirt turn and we'll see machinery moving. Kentucky plans to be done with their work in 2025. We plan to be done with this project in September, late fall of 2026."
The four-lane bridge is expected to open in 2031, although Holcomb noted the northern end of the I-69 extension opened three years ahead of schedule.
"We found a way to shave three years off that project. So, Section 1 to Section 6 was not only on budget, it was ahead of schedule by three years."
Speaking among corn and soybean fields near Waterworks Road and S. Weinbach Ave., WNIN News asked Governor Holcomb if the plan remains for the new span to be a toll bridge.
Holcomb said he’s expecting word about federal funding soon:
"We understand that may be the end of October now. So, that's a little finer date and we'll continue with our discussions with Kentucky.
The new Ohio River Crossing will be built east of the existing Twin Bridges.
Plans have called for demolishing one of those bridges and keeping the other for two-lane local traffic between Evansville and Henderson.
There has been opposition to both that plan and for tolls on the new bridge.