I-265 Ohio River Bridge

[NWI_Irish96]

Demolition just about finished on the Indiana side of the downtown bridge.  Would be neat to get an overhead photo to show the path cleared in Jeffersonville from the river all the way up to 10th street.

[ShawnP]

Some aerial views for those that asked for some.

http://www.whas11.com/news/Ohio-River-Bridges-Project-adds-more-delays-closures-222010901.html

[hbelkins]

There's a publicist who's been hired specifically for this project, yet the news report linked above is the first I've heard about these closures. She is definitely not doing as good a job as the KYTC spokesperson for the Louisville district office would be doing.

[ShawnP]

I see Andrea Clifford on the news a lot and yes she answers annoying road geek questions quickly.

[hbelkins]

Andrea is a co-worker and a very good friend of mine. (Even if she is a Jeff Gordon fan... )

She does a great job of getting the word out on lane closures, ramp closures, etc. The lady they hired for the bridges project is, from what I've observed, nowhere near as efficient.

[NWI_Irish96]

In Jeffersonville, VFW Boulevard and 7th street have been permanently closed at the downtown bridge site.  Most of the work right now is going on south of Court Ave but they're apparently getting ready to do some work north of Court.

[trafficsignal]

In Jeffersonville, VFW Boulevard and 7th street have been permanently closed at the downtown bridge site.  Most of the work right now is going on south of Court Ave but they're apparently getting ready to do some work north of Court.

I get to be somewhat involved with the project, enough to know that the next section to be worked on will be the new NB CD system running from Court to 10th.  Both 7th & VFW are in the way of the grading work.

[hbelkins]

They've set initial toll rates.

http://transportation.ky.gov/Pages/PressReleasePage.aspx?&FilterField1=ID&FilterValue1=35

Still no word on what kind of transponder will be used, but I'd be shocked if it's not E-ZPass since Indiana uses it and the three other states bordering Kentucky that have electronic tolling (IL, WV and VA) also use E-ZPass.

Also worthy of note is the automatic toll increases scheduled for every year.

[vtk]

They've set initial toll rates.

http://transportation.ky.gov/Pages/PressReleasePage.aspx?&FilterField1=ID&FilterValue1=35

Still no word on what kind of transponder will be used, but I'd be shocked if it's not E-ZPass since Indiana uses it and the three other states bordering Kentucky that have electronic tolling (IL, WV and VA) also use E-ZPass.

Also worthy of note is the automatic toll increases scheduled for every year.

I thought Illinois and Indiana used I-Pass.  Not that there's a practical difference anymore...

[RoadWarrior56]

Speaking of EZ-Pass, I noticed that the entire northeast uses it.  Here in the southeast it is Peach Pass in Georgia and Sun Pass in Florida.  Has their been any move to have these passes work around the country or have a national version of EZ-Pass?  Standardization would be nice.

[NE2]

Speaking of EZ-Pass, I noticed that the entire northeast uses it.  Here in the southeast it is Peach Pass in Georgia and Sun Pass in Florida.  Has their been any move to have these passes work around the country or have a national version of EZ-Pass?  Standardization would be nice.

It's going to happen: http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2012/dec/31/in-the-know-when-will-e-zpass-and-sunpass-be/

[NWI_Irish96]

They've set initial toll rates.

http://transportation.ky.gov/Pages/PressReleasePage.aspx?&FilterField1=ID&FilterValue1=35

Still no word on what kind of transponder will be used, but I'd be shocked if it's not E-ZPass since Indiana uses it and the three other states bordering Kentucky that have electronic tolling (IL, WV and VA) also use E-ZPass.

Also worthy of note is the automatic toll increases scheduled for every year.

I thought Illinois and Indiana used I-Pass.  Not that there's a practical difference anymore...

At first Indiana had its own transponders called i-Zoom, but then they switched to EZ-Pass. 

[NWI_Irish96]

News story w/ video on the New Salem Road interchange on the Indiana side of the East End Bridge:

http://www.wdrb.com/story/23388076/new-interchange

[thefro]

They've set initial toll rates.

http://transportation.ky.gov/Pages/PressReleasePage.aspx?&FilterField1=ID&FilterValue1=35

Still no word on what kind of transponder will be used, but I'd be shocked if it's not E-ZPass since Indiana uses it and the three other states bordering Kentucky that have electronic tolling (IL, WV and VA) also use E-ZPass.

Also worthy of note is the automatic toll increases scheduled for every year.

Glad they're giving the frequent commuters a break but the 2nd Street bridge and Sherman Minton are going to be packed with cars.

[hbelkins]

They've set initial toll rates.

http://transportation.ky.gov/Pages/PressReleasePage.aspx?&FilterField1=ID&FilterValue1=35

Still no word on what kind of transponder will be used, but I'd be shocked if it's not E-ZPass since Indiana uses it and the three other states bordering Kentucky that have electronic tolling (IL, WV and VA) also use E-ZPass.

Also worthy of note is the automatic toll increases scheduled for every year.

Glad they're giving the frequent commuters a break but the 2nd Street bridge and Sherman Minton are going to be packed with cars.

You'd probably burn as much or more in gas trying to detour via the Sherman Minton as you would just paying the toll and crossing on I-65. And the 2nd Street bridge (Clark Memorial) is already the better option for commuters crossing the river into downtown.

[Indyroads]

They've set initial toll rates.

http://transportation.ky.gov/Pages/PressReleasePage.aspx?&FilterField1=ID&FilterValue1=35

Still no word on what kind of transponder will be used, but I'd be shocked if it's not E-ZPass since Indiana uses it and the three other states bordering Kentucky that have electronic tolling (IL, WV and VA) also use E-ZPass.

Also worthy of note is the automatic toll increases scheduled for every year.

Glad they're giving the frequent commuters a break but the 2nd Street bridge and Sherman Minton are going to be packed with cars.

Does this mean that tolling will take place on both bridges or just the east end bridge.

[seicer]

Both I-65 and I-265.

[theline]

I thought Illinois and Indiana used I-Pass.  Not that there's a practical difference anymore...

Indiana uses EZPass, though they initially branded it as iZoom. They have since had the good sense of giving it the more recognizable brand name.

Illinois does use I-Pass, which is the transponder I own. Although I live in Indiana, I've never bothered to switch.

[silverback1065]

Are these tolls permanent?

[nwi_navigator_1181]

Are these tolls permanent?

More than likely. However, if precedence holds true, the Downtown Crossing may go free again after a few decades, since Kentucky is in control of that portion of the project. In past history, Kentucky let its parkways (and the Kentucky Turnpike portion of I-65) go free after debts were satisfied.

Since Indiana controls the East End (I-265) portion of the project, I would bet that those tolls will stay permanent.

[Indyroads]

Are these tolls permanent?

More than likely. However, if precedence holds true, the Downtown Crossing may go free again after a few decades, since Kentucky is in control of that portion of the project. In past history, Kentucky let its parkways (and the Kentucky Turnpike portion of I-65) go free after debts were satisfied.

Since Indiana controls the East End (I-265) portion of the project, I would bet that those tolls will stay permanent.

I am in favor of all "interstate branded" highways having a sunset date for tolling as of (lets say) 2035. This would take an act of congress to get it done. I propose that there be no grandfather clauses. Meaning that all tolled interstate routes would need to be phased out by that date.

[Alps]

Are these tolls permanent?

More than likely. However, if precedence holds true, the Downtown Crossing may go free again after a few decades, since Kentucky is in control of that portion of the project. In past history, Kentucky let its parkways (and the Kentucky Turnpike portion of I-65) go free after debts were satisfied.

Since Indiana controls the East End (I-265) portion of the project, I would bet that those tolls will stay permanent.

I am in favor of all "interstate branded" highways having a sunset date for tolling as of (lets say) 2035. This would take an act of congress to get it done. I propose that there be no grandfather clauses. Meaning that all tolled interstate routes would need to be phased out by that date.

A lot of toll roads would elect to drop the Interstate designation if that were the case. You'll especially never accomplish this on major bridge crossings.

[silverback1065]

what do you guys think of this person's opinion on the project? http://www.urbanophile.com/2013/09/19/louisville-bridges-project-proceeds-from-tragedy-to-farce/

[NWI_Irish96]

what do you guys think of this person's opinion on the project? http://www.urbanophile.com/2013/09/19/louisville-bridges-project-proceeds-from-tragedy-to-farce/

A lot of people think that the new downtown bridge isn't needed.  In the end, getting both was the only way to get the East End bridge, which is badly needed. 

[tdindy88]

Honestly I think the new bridge just doesn't look right compared to the other bridges downtown, all of them some sort of truss bridge, and then you have this futuristic looking thing plopped in the middle. At least on the East End it will stand out by itself.