Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels and Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear will celebrate the first construction project for the new East End Bridge this week.The two states are splitting the work and cost of the $2.6 billion Ohio River Bridges Project. On Thursday, officials will break ground on a 3,000 foot road extension between Utica, Indiana and the River Ridge Commerce Center. The road being built connects to Old Salem Road and will be used by commercial trucks to access the Port of Jeffersonville and will be the first exit north of the new East End Bridge.Gohmann Construction of Clarksville won the contract to build the project. Indiana Transportation Department spokesman Will Wingfield said the company's $3.2 million bid was the lowest among six statewide contractors."They have been given the notice to proceed. So essentially they have full authorization to begin work in their areas they have access to, for the Old Salem contract," he said.Indiana will announce a finalist to build the entire East End Bridge later this year, said Wingfield."We are continuing in a rapid fashion, the development and the finalization of the larger contract, which will build the bridge itself and the approaches," he said.Kentucky is responsible for building a new I-65 bridge and reworking Spaghetti Junction. Officials expect to announce a contractor this fall.
