The Interstate 69 Ohio River Crossing (I-69 ORX) is a proposed bridge to carry the planned Interstate 69 (I-69) extension over the Ohio River between Evansville, Indiana, and Henderson, Kentucky. The bridge and its approach roadways make up a portion of Segment of Independent Utility 4 (SIU 4) of the I-69 corridor from Michigan to Texas. It will be built approximately upstream of the existing Bi-State Vietnam Gold Star Bridges carrying U.S. Route 41 (US 41), at a point just downstream from where the Green River flows into the Ohio.
Description
The design of the I-69 Ohio River Crossing has not yet been defined. A $17 million contract to be awarded by the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) in late 2016 will employ a consulting firm to complete required environmental studies and preliminary design of the bridge. Completion of that work is scheduled for the end of 2020.
The I-69 ORX will be constructed about east (upstream) of the existing US 41 Bi-State Vietnam Gold Star Bridges linking Evansville, Indiana, with Henderson, Kentucky. The northern approach to the bridge will tie into the existing I-69 in Indiana (one part formerly I-164) freeway between Green River Road and Weinbach Avenue along Evansville's southeast side. On the Kentucky side, the southern approach is planned to tie into I-69 in Kentucky (formerly the Pennyrile Parkway) at the interchange with the Henderson Bypass (US 41/KY 425). No interchanges are planned on the Indiana approach, which will largely consist of a 2-3 mile long causeway across the floodplain, while interchanges with the Audubon Parkway and US 60 are planned on the Kentucky approach. The I-69 ORX project has been divided into three sections:
Section 1: From the current northern terminus of I-69 in Kentucky at the I-69/US-41/KY-425 interchange south of Henderson to US-60 east of Henderson. This section will incorporate approximately 3 miles of the US-41 freeway (Pennyrile Parkway) from the I-69/KY-425 interchange to a point north of the KY-351 interchange, plus new terrain alignment from US-41 north of the KY-351 interchange to US-60. Incorporates the existing US-41/Audubon Parkway (Future I-x69 Spur) interchange. This section has been funded by the State of Kentucky; construction began in 2022, with completion expected in 2025. Section 2: From US-60 east of Henderson, Kentucky, to the Kentucky/Indiana state line (the state line lies about one-half mile (800 meters) north of the Ohio River in this area due to changes in the river's course over time). Includes a new 4-lane toll bridge across the Ohio River. Kentucky and Indiana are developing a funding plan that will include a mix of tolls, state, and federal funds. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2027 with opening scheduled for 2031, but may be accelerated if funding is secured sooner. Section 3: From the Indiana/Kentucky state line to the existing I-69 east of Evansville, Indiana. A new high-speed interchange will be constructed to connect the ORX approach to the existing I-69. The existing I-69 west of this interchange to US-41 will become an extension of Veterans Memorial Parkway. Indiana has committed $200 million to begin construction in 2023 and completion scheduled for 2026.
Status
Progress stalls due to funding issues
Environmental studies were initiated in 2001, and a draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) was issued in March 2004. Environmental studies were suspended when no funding source was identified to build the bridge, which is estimated to cost $1.4 billion. Kentucky is responsible for financing two-thirds (approx. $933.3 million) of the construction cost, and Indiana will finance the remaining third (approx. $466.6 million). Indiana has funding available for its portion of the project through the state's Major Moves program, but Kentucky has yet to identify a dedicated funding source for its portion of the cost.