A federal judge is allowing a case challenging the Ohio River Bridges Project to move forward.In 2009, River Fields and the National Trust for Historic Preservation filed suit against the Federal Highway Administration. They argued the federal government did not practice due diligence in preparing environmental impact statements and several historical places could be affected by the project.Western District of Kentucky Judge John G. Heyburn put a stay on the suit in 2010 while bi-state officials reworked the $2.6 billion bridges proposal.The federal government has recently approved a new environmental impact statement and has signed off on its financing plan, which includes the use of tolls, and Heyburn has lifted the stay.River Fields spokesman Bob Griffith says the plaintiffs have until September 5 to decide if they want to file an amended complaint.“National Trust and River Fields are two separate organizations so each one is going to have to decide whether there is new information that it wants to challenge," he said.Heyburn wrote the case schedule "should not delay Defendants anticipated contractual and construction activities during this time."The Courier-Journal reports the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet plans to award a construction contract for the downtown Louisville section on Dec. 15.
