I-69 Ohio River Bridge

[TheCleanDemon]

One might wonder if US 41 will even need to exist as it does today once most of the thru traffic is moved to 69.

Are you suggesting removing the existing bridges? They will continue to carry local traffic between Henderson and Evansville and provide a toll-free alternative. Good luck with that.

They are in fact planning to decommission one of the Twin Bridges, so 41 will be one lane north and one lane south. Sure, there will still be local traffic crossing, but enough to keep 41 as a 4 lane highway especially south of the Lloyd? I'm not so sure.

What configuration the roadway will take and what its route number will be are two separate questions. It will most likely remain US 41, and if not, then very likely IN 941. I see zero chance that it just becomes a local road.

I know they're separate questions, that's why I wasn't quoting or responding to anyone chatting about the number when I was talking about what form the road might take in the future.

[JREwing78]

There's no logical reason to reroute US-41 from its current alignment through either Evansville or Henderson, even after KyDOT decommissions the newer of the twin bridges (Yes, that's correct - the newer one was deemed to be in worse condition). 

Traffic through Evansville will not likely change significantly when the new Ohio River bridge is in place. There will be some existing traffic that will move to I-69 to take advantage of the improvement in drive time bypassing Henderson. But, considering the freeway bypass of Evansville has been in place for over 3 decades (opened as I-164 in 1990), most folks who are going to choose I-69 over US-41 have already chosen their path.

[evvroads]

Sure, there will still be local traffic crossing, but enough to keep 41 as a 4 lane highway especially south of the Lloyd? I'm not so sure.

I think there will easily still be enough traffic at least between Lloyd and Veterans/I-69 to justify 4 lanes. You have to remember 41 cuts right through the middle of Evansville. There's still a ton of local traffic that uses 41. Will it need to be a divided highway configuration? No, probably not given the speed limit (40) and number of stoplights in that section (6 in the 1.5 miles between Walnut and Riverside), but I don't think it's hurting anything either. I doubt the cost to convert/diet that section to something different with 4 lanes would ever make financial sense over just maintaining the highway configuration with 4 lanes. South of Veterans could be a different story when they go down to 2 lanes on the Twin Solo Bridges.

[jnewkirk77]

I think there will easily still be enough traffic at least between Lloyd and Veterans/I-69 to justify 4 lanes. You have to remember 41 cuts right through the middle of Evansville. There's still a ton of local traffic that uses 41. Will it need to be a divided highway configuration? No, probably not given the speed limit (40) and number of stoplights in that section (6 in the 1.5 miles between Walnut and Riverside), but I don't think it's hurting anything either. I doubt the cost to convert/diet that section to something different with 4 lanes would ever make financial sense over just maintaining the highway configuration with 4 lanes. South of Veterans could be a different story when they go down to 2 lanes on the Twin Solo Bridges.

It'd be nice if they could keep the piers of the SB bridge so a new one could be built for less money if/when the NB bridge does need to be replaced.  As I recall, the piers are in good shape, it's just that everything above them needs to go. 

[mgk920]

One might wonder if US 41 will even need to exist as it does today once most of the thru traffic is moved to 69.

Are you suggesting removing the existing bridges? They will continue to carry local traffic between Henderson and Evansville and provide a toll-free alternative. Good luck with that.

They are in fact planning to decommission one of the Twin Bridges, so 41 will be one lane north and one lane south. Sure, there will still be local traffic crossing, but enough to keep 41 as a 4 lane highway especially south of the Lloyd? I'm not so sure.

What configuration the roadway will take and what its route number will be are two separate questions. It will most likely remain US 41, and if not, then very likely IN 941. I see zero chance that it just becomes a local road.

Thinking it through, IMHO, the only way that current US 41 through Evansville will ever become an 'IN X41' (ie, IN 941) is if the US 41 corridor itself through the state ever becomes 'I-41'.

Mike

[Moose]

Old news but. Might as well post the pictures.

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1063903978428811&set=pcb.1063904005095475

[silverback1065]

remember the bridges on 41 arent even in indiana, so the 2 lane section is in kentucky. it would make no sense to make it 2 lanes in indiana it is the main north south route for local traffic. there is no reason to reroute 41 and still own the road. if indot rerouted 41 they wouldn't want to keep the old route and renumber it. also isnt the bridge being decommissioned turning into a bike path?

[seicer]

I'm not sure what you are asking, but the answers have long been posted to https://i69ohiorivercrossing.com/faqs/ 

"Improving long-term cross-river mobility between Evansville and Henderson has to include a discussion of the US 41 bridges. The northbound span opened in 1932 and the southbound bridge opened in 1965. Maintenance costs are high. Indiana and Kentucky have spent more than $50 million on maintenance costs on the US 41 bridges since 2005. A report on the US 41 bridges finds it would cost an estimated $293 million to maintain the two bridges through 2062."

And

"Due to its historic significance and serviceable condition, the northbound US 41 will be retained for two-way traffic."

And

"A marketing plan will be undertaken to determine if there is any group or agency that would be willing and able to maintain and preserve the bridge for local use, which could include possible bicycle or pedestrian facilities. If there are no such groups or agencies found, the bridge would be demolished after construction of the I-69 bridge."

There will be no local organization or group that will be able to maintain a massive cantilevered truss bridge for bicycle use. While there are examples elsewhere, they usually have the backing of multi-state park agencies, well-funded civic organizations, etc. - none of that exist in Henderson or Evansville.

[mgk920]

The most that I would expect is for a pedestrian/bicycle facility to be added to the existing northbound bridge when it is converted back to two-way traffic.  The southbound span will be demoed.

Mike

[seicer]

The only feasible manner to add such a facility would be to cantilever them off of the side. More realistic is an option to add a pedestrian/bicycle facility to the I-69 crossing.

[hbelkins]

I was one of those who questioned the decision to keep the older bridge instead of the newer one, but then the reason became clear after the issue with the I-40 Mississippi River bridge arose a few years ago. The southbound US 41 bridge is made of the same type of steel. FHWA is requiring annual inspections of the bridges made with that steel, and Kentucky has contracted them out to an outside firm (Michael Baker, I think). So there's that cost added on top of maintenance.

[roadman65]

The removal of one of the bridges across the Ohio on US 41 is going to create a situation. Being the route is divided on both sides it will narrow to two lanes for a bit and widen afterwards.

[triplemultiplex]

Clearly the thinking is you build a new four lane bridge in like two decades or something. The old 2 lane span tides ya over until then.

[roadman65]

Clearly the thinking is you build a new four lane bridge in like two decades or something. The old 2 lane span tides ya over until then.

Nothing wrong with this concept they're going for. Just pointing out the irony.

[tdindy88]

The removal of one of the bridges across the Ohio on US 41 is going to create a situation. Being the route is divided on both sides it will narrow to two lanes for a bit and widen afterwards.

I'm guessing that the stretch of US 41 south of the bridge into Henderson will be reduced to two lanes, probably with a center turn lane. With the I-69 bridge open there will be presumably less traffic and the four lanes there in Henderson won't be needed. They can keep the four-lane section all the way to I-69 in Evansville or even as far as Ellis Park before reducing it down to two lanes.

[edwaleni]

US41 south of Evansville is 50mph and 55mph at the bridge with 2 35mph zones and 3 traffic lights before you reach Henderson.

With the new road, if I start at the same place (Robert Orr and US41) and take the ramp to cross the new bridge all the way to the new US41 merge at Henderson (currently under construction), I would surmise the speed limit will probably be 65mph and then 65 or 70 over the bridge until you reach the merge.

No traffic lights, no left turns in front of you. Faster speeds.

I would guess that out of 10 tries you would get to Henderson faster on the new route at least 7 to 8 times.

Tearing down the 2nd bridge is the right thing to do. I think the traffic shift will occur just based on time to distance alone.

[mgk920]

Also, without the southbound bridge in the way, when the time comes to replace the existing northbound bridge, space will be there to do it without affecting the existing bridge's traffic.

Mike

[jnewkirk77]

WFIE in Evansville has this story tonight, just a little behind the times ...

The future of the southbound twin bridge is in jeopardy

[Henry]

It doesn't seem right to me that the newer of the two spans on US 41 should be torn down after the I-69 bridge opens to traffic. I do agree that operating three bridges isn't feasible for an area this size, but still, that decision is a bit off to me.

[seicer]

The newer of the two bridges has steel that is prone to fatigue cracking and is in poorer condition. The cost of inspections and potential repairs outweighs the benefit of keeping it around. The older bridge is expected to be rehabilitated and remain in serviceable condition for over 130 years, if not more.

[mgk920]

Yea, very often 'newer' does NOT equal 'better'.

Mike

[Life in Paradise]

It doesn't seem right to me that the newer of the two spans on US 41 should be torn down after the I-69 bridge opens to traffic. I do agree that operating three bridges isn't feasible for an area this size, but still, that decision is a bit off to me.

As others have stated, the physical condition of the newer bridge being worse than the older bridge is the major concern.  What bothers me is that the northbound bridge has the worse curve coming off the bridge northbound.  You would have thought it would have been straighter as you come off, but it takes a relatively sharp veer left to go around Ellis Park Racing facility.

[SSR_317]

There's no logical reason to reroute US-41 from its current alignment through either Evansville or Henderson, even after KyDOT decommissions the newer of the twin bridges (Yes, that's correct - the newer one was deemed to be in worse condition). 

...

More proof of the old adage, "They just don't build things like they used to!"

By the way, the Commonwealth of Kentucky calls their state DOT the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC).

[jnewkirk77]

As part of the I-69 ORX (Ohio River Crossing) project, the roundabouts at the KY 351/Zion Rd./2nd St. interchange in Henderson opened in their final configuration on Saturday.

The project website has a very comprehensive page to help local motorists get "Roundabout Ready."

With the new configuration in place, the KY 2084 (old U.S. 41) partial interchange just south of 351 is closing permanently (I believe on Monday 11/25). Going forward, access to and from 2084 will be via the westernmost of the three roundabouts at 351.

Construction continues on other portions of the project, including at U.S. 60, where a similar three-roundabout interchange is scheduled for completion late next year. When complete, this interchange will serve as the new temporary end of I-69 until the bridge itself is built.

[Plutonic Panda]

I gotta give props to the project team for creating such an informative website for this project. They mention they are seeking ways to identify more funding to accelerate section 2, which is the bridge over the river. Hopefully they can achieve that.