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Project Profiles

95 Express

Location

Louisville, Kentucky / Southern Indiana

Project Borrower / Sponsor

Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC)

Kentucky Public Transportation Infrastructure Authority (KPTIA)

Program Areas

Project DeliveryProject Finance
P3Revenue - Road Pricing Revenue

Mode

Bridge/Highway

Description

The Downtown Crossing project includes a new bridge facility across the Ohio River, and associated roadway and facilities, connecting Louisville, Kentucky and Clark County, Indiana. The bridge will carry six lanes of northbound I-65. The existing Kennedy Bridge, located immediately upstream will be rehabilitated and reconfigured to carry six lanes of I-65 southbound. The project also includes improved and expanded approaches and the reconstruction of the Kennedy Interchange between I-65, I-64, and I-71 in downtown Louisville to eliminate design deficiencies and safety hazards.

The project is one half of the bi-state Ohio River Bridges project, which also includes the new East End Bridge, also spanning the Ohio River eight miles to the north, connecting I-265/SR 265 in Indiana to I-265/KY 841 in Kentucky. The Commonwealth of Kentucky is leading the Downtown Crossing project and State of Indiana is leading the East End Crossing project.

The Downtown Crossing project is being delivered through a design-build contract between KYTC and Walsh Construction Co. awarded in November 2012. The Downtown River Bridge (and East End Bridge) will be tolled, which will back bonds sold by KPTIA to partially finance the project.

Cost

$1,308 million (YOE)

Funding Sources

Traditional federal funds - $479.4 million
GARVEE bonds - $336 million

Toll revenue bonds - $492.2 million

Project Delivery/Contract Method

Design-Build

Private Partner

Design-builder: Walsh Construction

  • Walsh Construction Co.
  • Milestone Contractors, L.P.
  • Jacobs Engineering Group Inc. - Lead design
  • Buckland & Taylor Ltd. - Structural design
  • Guthrie/Mayes Public Relations - Public involvement

Project Advisors/Consultants

Oversight assistance (construction oversight, inspection, and quality control)

  • HDR, Inc.
  • Greenman-Pedersen, Inc.
  • FIGG Bridge Inspection, Inc.
  • S&ME, Inc.

Lenders

Bondholders

Duration/Status

Design-build team selection on November 15, 2012.

Construction began June 18, 2013.

Substantial completion expected by December 2016.

Financial Status

KPTIA submitted in September 2012 a TIFIA Letter of Interest for a direct loan under MAP-21 FY2013 funding.

Innovations

The Downtown Crossing is part of the Ohio River Bridges project, which also includes the East End Crossing eight miles to the east. Together, the Louisville and Southern Indiana Bridges Authority, a bi-state agency, has been responsible for the financing of the $2.6 billion Ohio River Bridges. Kentucky is delivering the Downtown Crossing through a more traditional design-build contract, while Indiana has chosen to finance the East End Crossing through an availability-pay P3. These innovative delivery approaches have combined significant cost savings.

Related Links/Articles

Ohio River Bridges Project Website

Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Project Procurement Website

Louisville and Southern Indiana Bridges Authority Website

Initial Financial Plan Update – July 2012

Contacts

Andy Barber
Project Manager
Kentucky Transportation Cabinet
Tel: (502) 210-5400

andy.barber@ky.gov