Officials have taken a step toward making the I-69 Ohio River Crossing a toll bridge and renaming the current Highway 41. WNIN”s John Gibson has the update:
The Kentucky Public Transportation Infrastructure Authority approved an inter-local agreement to establish a Tolling Body.
Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear advocated for the project to move forward without tolls but the Republican controlled Kentucky General Assembly passed legislation requiring tolls.
The Infrastructure Authority approved a financial plan for the 933-million dollar project last year.
It requires legislative action to ensure 150-million in general funds are available for the project and tolling is a part of the funding equation.
Only the new I-69 bridge will be tolled.
Plans call for keeping one of the Twin Bridges as a toll-free route for local traffic.
The authority also plans to recognize U.S. Highway 41 as a concurrent route with I-69.
The U.S. 41 corridor in Henderson will be changed to Kentucky Route 2341. It will be called Indiana Route 141 on the Evansville side of the river.