The state of Kentucky is inching ever closer to beginning its construction of the heavily-anticipated I-69/Ohio River Crossing Bridge in Henderson County.
In a Monday afternoon co-presentation and update to the Pennyrile Area Development District, Kentucky Transportation Cabinet District 2 Chief Engineer Deneatra Henderson and Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Project Manager Emily Deason each noted that with environmental clearance coming for the Commonwealth in September, groundbreaking for Section 1 of the 10-year development should come early next year.
Already, literal in-roads have been made to bring this project up to speed — in what will be a massive corridor from Mexico to Canada, and west Kentucky located perfectly in the middle.
Deason stated it’s the kind of project that can really plug a need in the region, and the nation.
Section 1 is expected to take three years and cost more than $230 million, and it will specifically target base development in and around Henderson — including a complete conversion of US 41, the KY 351 interchange, and the installation of six roundabouts to limit both vehicle and pedestrian conflicts within the community.
Section 2, Deason added, will involve the bi-state project and ultimate construction of a four-lane bridge across the Ohio River — joining Henderson and Evansville at the micro level, southern Indiana and western Kentucky at the macro level, and three countries on the international shipping stage.
Its estimated cost is $1 billion, with construction hopefully beginning in 2027 and ending by 2031.
Like several different job markets, Henderson said she and Deason are looking for engineers for this massive project, as west Kentucky is experiencing a shortage in qualified individuals for projects of this magnitude.
She added that if dignitaries within the Pennyrile District could share with local high schools, that there is a potential for internships with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet that could lead to full-time jobs out of college.
As Deason and Henderson said, Indiana officials have already started to extend their arms in this handshake. Earlier this summer, Governor Eric Holcomb announced a $200 million investment to the development of the I-69/Ohio River Crossing near Evansville — with pre-construction near Veterans Memorial Park and a 1 ½ mile new-terrain portion approaching the Ohio River already underway.
