I-69 Ohio River Bridge

[Moose]

Indiana starts work on the I-69 approach roadways...

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1189450093183568&set=a.528868892575028

[edwaleni]

Indiana starts work on the I-69 approach roadways...

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1189450093183568&set=a.528868892575028

 A lot of cranky posters on Facebook.

[JREwing78]

Indiana starts work on the I-69 approach roadways...

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1189450093183568&set=a.528868892575028

 A lot of cranky posters on Facebook.

It's the only way they can justify their own existence. Otherwise we might have progress! Oh, the HORROR!!

[mgk920]

Why can't they build kewl things here in the USA anymore . . .

 

Mike

[Moose]

https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=1190878593040718&set=a.528868892575028

[Moose]

https://www.facebook.com/I69ORX/videos/1272647890511713

[The Ghostbuster]

Here is an overhead shot of the under-construction US 60 interchange from Google Maps: https://www.google.com/maps/@37.8635021,-87.5288701,1069m/data=!3m1!1e3?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDIxOS4xIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D.

[Thegeet]

Can anyone remind me why one of the twin bridges will be destroyed?

[jnewkirk77]

Can anyone remind me why one of the twin bridges will be destroyed?

The southbound bridge is in worse condition than the northbound. It has required much more maintenance and repair in its 60 year life than the northbound has in 90 years, and it is made of the same type of steel that was in the bridge which collapsed in Minneapolis a few years ago.

[silverback1065]

I think there was an idea to keep it and turn it into a bike path but I believe that idea died a long time ago.

[Sapphuby]

Can anyone remind me why one of the twin bridges will be destroyed?

The southbound bridge is in worse condition than the northbound. It has required much more maintenance and repair in its 60 year life than the northbound has in 90 years, and it is made of the same type of steel that was in the bridge which collapsed in Minneapolis a few years ago.

It feels reassuring that the northbound span will be kept, since that one, with an added bonus of being historical, is in better shape. It just satisfies the historical bridge lover in me.

[The Ghostbuster]

Even if the majority of Interstate 69 traffic moves to the new bridge to the east, will removing one of the US 41 bridges cause a bottleneck, since both north and south of the existing bridges US 41 is four lanes wide?

[jnewkirk77]

Even if the majority of Interstate 69 traffic moves to the new bridge to the east, will removing one of the US 41 bridges cause a bottleneck, since both north and south of the existing bridges US 41 is four lanes wide?

I'm not sure that's a question that can be answered until the new bridge opens and traffic patterns get established.  There is sufficient space - barely - on the NB bridge for three lanes; it's been done on a temporary basis before. It might be possible to do that and have the center lane be reversible, with two lanes NB in the morning and 2 SB in the afternoon.

[davewiecking]

Even if the majority of Interstate 69 traffic moves to the new bridge to the east, will removing one of the US 41 bridges cause a bottleneck, since both north and south of the existing bridges US 41 is four lanes wide?

If the new bridges were tolled, that might be a concern. Since they aren't, it isn't.

Editing to add that I was mistaken. The I-69 bridges will be tolled. I confused this project with one in Cincinnati...

[sprjus4]

Even if the majority of Interstate 69 traffic moves to the new bridge to the east, will removing one of the US 41 bridges cause a bottleneck, since both north and south of the existing bridges US 41 is four lanes wide?

I'm not sure that's a question that can be answered until the new bridge opens and traffic patterns get established.  There is sufficient space - barely - on the NB bridge for three lanes; it's been done on a temporary basis before. It might be possible to do that and have the center lane be reversible, with two lanes NB in the morning and 2 SB in the afternoon.

Yeah, the problem will be local traffic. I can't imagine much will be using I-69, especially if it's tolled. It really just boils down to how much traffic will be locally commuting between the two towns.

[sprjus4]

Even if the majority of Interstate 69 traffic moves to the new bridge to the east, will removing one of the US 41 bridges cause a bottleneck, since both north and south of the existing bridges US 41 is four lanes wide?

If the new bridges were tolled, that might be a concern. Since they aren't, it isn't.

Are the bridges not being tolled anymore?

[davewiecking]

Even if the majority of Interstate 69 traffic moves to the new bridge to the east, will removing one of the US 41 bridges cause a bottleneck, since both north and south of the existing bridges US 41 is four lanes wide?

If the new bridges were tolled, that might be a concern. Since they aren't, it isn't.

Are the bridges not being tolled anymore?

My bad. Tolls WILL be in place for the new bridges, which will most assuredly cause more local traffic to use US-41.

[jnewkirk77]

KYTC will have the remainder of ORX Section 1 - up to and including the US 60 interchange and roundabouts - complete by October, according to The Hendersonian.

There are some interesting details on the construction in the story, including cost figures, which I hadn't seen before this ($158 million for Section 1 and an estimated $1.27 billion for the bridge itself, which will be Section 2).

As has been noted previously, Section 3 is the Indiana approach and connections to existing I-69, and construction there is set to be completed in late 2026.

[jnewkirk77]

Henderson interests are working hard to get the Record of Decision changed to keep the SB US 41 bridge after the I-69 bridge opens.

WFIE reports that Congressman James Comer is supportive of keeping the bridge, although it is not clear if that support comes with the funding to do so.

[silverback1065]

Henderson interests are working hard to get the Record of Decision changed to keep the SB US 41 bridge after the I-69 bridge opens.

WFIE reports that Congressman James Comer is supportive of keeping the bridge, although it is not clear if that support comes with the funding to do so.

maybe he can pay for its upkeep 

[The Ghostbuster]

If he can't, who can?

[edwaleni]

Henderson interests are working hard to get the Record of Decision changed to keep the SB US 41 bridge after the I-69 bridge opens.

WFIE reports that Congressman James Comer is supportive of keeping the bridge, although it is not clear if that support comes with the funding to do so.

maybe he can pay for its upkeep 

Staton says if the twin bridges were to go away, it would hurt businesses on the U.S. 41 strip, farmers trying to move equipment across state lines, and cause a permanent traffic jam.

I think this was covered in the EIS before the Record of Decision was made. It was also discussed in the public hearings.

Also, Henderson annexed most of the land around the future I-69/US-41 exit and the future I-69/US-60 exit.



If I was Henderson, I would work with several developers and offer special zoning deals for commercial development in and around those exits and tax breaks for those who are on US-41.

The one farmer who works Green River Island on the Kentucky side already has an equipment barn on site which is accessible from Waterworks Road on the Indiana state line. The only reason he would move his equipment is if the island is flooded, by which he should be getting another barn on the Indiana side, not trekking across a major arterial bridge to reach the Kentucky side. The nearest working farm is off US-60 east of Henderson, so I don't think the mayor is being realistic.

[mgk920]

And with the planned I-69 crossing being there and taking most or all of the through traffic off of the existing US 41 crossing, there should be plenty of room and time for a local farmer to cross the river with his equipment on the remaining two lane bridge.  It is curious to me that the above satellite image does not show the planned I-69.

Mike