INDIANAPOLIS — Gov. Eric J. Holcomb and the Indiana Department of Transportation today announced a bi-state effort between Indiana and Kentucky to apply for $632.3 million in federal grant funding for the I-69 Ohio River Crossing project between Evansville, Ind. and Henderson, Ky.
“Construction of this crossing will extend I-69 from border-to-border in the State of Indiana, providing another gateway to and from Kentucky and points beyond,” said Gov. Eric Holcomb. “This project will have regional, national, and international impacts related to connectivity, safety, and economic opportunity on the corridor.”
INDOT and the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet submitted an application through the Multimodal Discretionary Grant Program, which is part of the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Both states propose $513.7 million from other funding sources if the grant is approved. The states have committed $265 million to complete environmental studies and construction of the Kentucky approach in Henderson.
“INDOT is seeking out and acting on every opportunity to compete for discretionary grant funding that will supplement our current program,” said INDOT Commissioner Mike Smith. “We thank the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet for their continued partnership as we move the project forward.”
The $1.4 billion project, known as I-69 ORX, is one of four infrastructure projects submitted for federal funding through the program.
INDOT also put forward applications for:
- FlexRoad along I-80/I-94 in Lake County, which aims to improve traffic flow and safety on the state’s busiest interstate corridor,
- Improve 64 in Floyd County, with the goal of reducing congestion and improving safety and mobility on I-64 in southeast Indiana, and
- TheLloyd4U project in Vanderburgh County aims to provide safer, more efficient travel for motorists on the Lloyd Expressway.
The four applications total more than $945.5 million in potential federal funding. Awards are expected to be announced by early 2024.
For more information about the Multimodal Discretionary Grant Program, visit https://www.transportation.gov/grants/mpdg-program.
