The Federal Highway Administration has signed off on the latest record of decision for the Ohio River Bridges Project.The new approval became necessary early last year, when Mayor Greg Fischer, Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear and Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels changed the project to cut the cost from $4.1 billion to $2.6 billion. The approval brings the start of construction one step closer.Still remaining is an agreement to toll the existing Interstate 65 and the selection of firms to build the two bridges. Mayor Fischer will discuss the next steps today at noon. Congressman John Yarmuth released the following statement:
βWith the conclusion of the federal environmental review and approval of the Record of Decision, everything is on track to begin construction on the Bridges Project later this year. Throughout this process, I have asked federal officials to expedite approval of the Bridges Project, and we are seeing the results of that today.β
The news comes a day after former Bridges Authority director
Steve Schultz resigned to take a job as an adviser to Indiana on the project.
