New Albany, Jeffersonville mayors want bridges built sooner rather than later

By DANIEL SUDDEATH
Daniel.Suddeath@newsandtribune.com

July 24, 2008 09:27 am

— The mayors of Jeffersonville, New Albany and Louisville are joining forces in support of a timely finish to the Ohio River Bridges Project.
New Albany Mayor Doug England, Jeffersonville Mayor Tom Galligan and Louisville Mayor Jerry Abramson met recently with Build the Bridges Coalition to voice the importance of finishing the project.
“We’ve all made major investments to improve our riverfronts,” England said in a news release. “Completing the Bridges Project is the needed and critical step to link our citizens and foster job growth throughout the metro area.”
England said the cities have combined efforts to finish the Ohio River Greenway, and the Bridges Project is another example of the importance of unity.
The project consists of two new bridges and the rebuilding of Spaghetti Junction, the interchange where Intestates 65, 64 and 71 converge at the base of the Kennedy Bridge on the Kentucky side. Reconstructing Spaghetti Junction would eliminate left-hand exits and ease the congested interchange, according to the plan.
The two new structures would be an East-End Bridge and a Downtown Bridge. The East-End Bridge would be six lanes and it would be located approximately eight miles upstream from the Kennedy Bridge at Utica. It would hopefully provide relief for downtown traffic in Louisville and help connect Kentucky and Southern Indiana.
The Downtown Bridge would mirror the Kennedy Bridge, which would be converted to six lanes to carry southbound traffic on I-65. The new Downtown Bridge also would have six lanes and carry northbound traffic on I-65.
Indiana already has provided its funding amount of $1.1 billion, coming mainly from the state’s lease of the Indiana Northern Toll Road.
Kentucky has provided $185 million of its $2.9 billion responsibility, with the state’s General Assembly expected to make financial decisions this year in regard to the project.
Galligan wants to see work on the Downtown and East End bridges started as soon as possible.
“People want to see bulldozers pushing dirt,” he said.
According to the Web site www.buildthebridges.com, the project calls for the East End Bridge to open in 2013 and the Downtown Bridge to open in 2019. Spaghetti Junction is scheduled to be completed by 2024, with the timeline for each phase subject on funding.
“Our region’s economic future — our ability to keep and attract jobs — depends on maintaining a safe, adequate cross-river highway system that allows people and goods to flow,” Abramson said.
Edward Glasscock, chairman of the Build the Bridges Coalition, said he is encouraged by the support of the mayors.
“To hear the mayors express unwavering support and a commitment to work together is strong evidence that we need progress as quickly s possible and a long-term funding solution,” he said.
“Every delay adds to project costs while congestion and safety problems go unaddressed.”