Ohio River Bridges Project Wins Federal Approval

LOUISVILLE, Ky.  - Efforts to build two new bridges linking the Louisville area and southern Indiana have cleared another hurdle by winning federal approval to proceed with construction of
the $2.6 billion project.

Kentucky and Indiana officials said Wednesday that the Federal Highway Administration approved the plan to build the two spans and to modernize an interchange in downtown Louisville.

Gov. Steve Beshear says after decades of debate, the project is about to become a reality, and Indiana Gov. Mitch
Daniels says the approval marks another important step forward.

Officials say an August groundbreaking is expected for the first element of the massive project.

Indiana will oversee construction of an East End bridge between Utica, Ind., and Prospect, Ky.

Kentucky will oversee construction of a new downtown bridge.