The Kentucky Public Transportation Infrastructure Authority has taken action to move forward with the new I-69 bridge project that will connect Evansville, Henderson and Kentucky. Kentucky will lead construction, procurement and financing. Photo from I-69 Ohio River Crossing.

News Release

FRANKFORT, KY. — The Kentucky Public Transportation Infrastructure Authority has taken action to move forward with the new I-69 bridge project that will connect Evansville, Henderson and Kentucky. KPTIA authorized a financial plan for Section 2 of the I-69 Ohio River Crossing and approved a resolution to enter into a Bi-State Development Agreement between Kentucky and Indiana for future construction.

“This is a significant milestone for the new I-69 Ohio River Crossing, a key interstate connection that is going to help with the safe and reliable transit of people and goods in Western Kentucky and throughout this part of the country,” said Gov. Andy Beshear. “This bridge is a priority for Team Kentucky and we’re taking these steps to move us closer to breaking ground and making this long-awaited connection a reality.”

The Bi-State Development Agreement is between the Commonwealth of Kentucky, by and through the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and KPTIA, and the state of Indiana, by and through the Indiana Department of Transportation and the Indiana Finance Authority, to jointly undertake public infrastructure improvements to connect Henderson, Ky., and Evansville, including the construction of a new four-lane bridge to carry I-69 traffic across the Ohio River.

The agreement includes terms for the financing, procurement, development, construction and delivery of the new I-69 bridge and Veterans Memorial Parkway. Such agreements provide the framework for cooperation between the two states for projects with a shared border.

The entire project, started in 2016, is divided into three sections for project delivery. Construction on Section 1, the Kentucky approach, started in summer 2022 and is expected to be complete by late this year. Section 2 is a bi-state project that includes the new river crossing. The bridge will ultimately be owned equally by Kentucky and Indiana. Section 3 includes some of the approach roadways and bridges in Indiana and is being led by INDOT. Construction started in fall 2024 and is expected to be complete in late 2026.