The new downtown bridge will open for traffic by Christmas, a little earlier than projected, several officials announced during a news briefing atop the new bridge. “Of course, it will be one bridge being finished, the other one has to be redone so we are not going to see the total effect for a few time”, Schimpff said.
Advertisement
“It’s exciting to be here and stand on a bridge that was for decades a nebulous vision”, Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear said.
“Before the first vehicle drive across this span, the public will have a chance to walk the new bridge”.
The exact opening date hasn’t been determined yet, but workers are ahead of schedule and on budget.
The bridge under construction parallel to the John F. Kennedy Memorial Bridge is rapidly nearing completion and, based on most recent forecasts, should begin carrying I-65 traffic by the end of the year. New ramps will get you up onto the still-unnamed bridge, where both north and southbound traffic will travel over the Ohio River as crews re-deck the Kennedy to extend its life.
So cones, barrels and detours will still be with us for awhile, but when you’ve been waiting this long, excitement is hard to contain.
Advertisement
The new bridge will carry two-way traffic temporarily as crews continue work on the adjacent Kennedy Bridge that carries Interstate 65 traffic across the Ohio River. Joining him were Indiana Lt. Gov. Sue Ellspermann, Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer and Mayor Mike Moore of Jeffersonville, Ind., on the opposite shore. As part of its contract, Walsh will get $40,000 for each day ahead of schedule that the project is completed. The tolls range will range from $1 for frequent commuters with two-axle cars to $12 for heavy trucks. If construction should run over, the company would have to pay $80,000 a day for each day past December 9 with no cap.
