LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB Fox 41)---- The Ohio River Bridges Project has been in the works for years now, and officials want it to move forward soon.
The project originally cost $4.1 billion, but Kentucky and Indiana's Governors, along with Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer, came up with an new plan to trim $1.2 billion from the cost.
The Federal Highway Administration approved it, but required a Supplemental Environmental Impact Study to move forward.
On Monday night, as part of the draft approval, project officials presented to community members the alternatives they've come up with to cut costs.
They call for reducing an East End bridge from 6 to 4 lanes, rebuilding Spaghetti Junction in its current location, and collecting tolls.
People can comment on this project until January 9th.
"We'll address every comment that we receive in that document, and those comments are then compiled and forwarded to the Federal Highway Administration for their decisions on whether this is an appropriate project to move forward with," says John Sacksteder, Bridges Project Manager.
Officials with Kentucky's Transportation Cabinet tell us the Louisville and Southern Indiana Bridges Authority applied for a $100 million dollar finance credit to help reduce the overall financing cost of the project, but have learned they are not being given this money.
"I think we're prepared for just about any eventuality and it's not a setback to the project in any ways," says Chuck Wolfe, Kentucky Transportation Cabinet spokesman.
We're told they will continue to look for sources of funding and will continue to apply for these types of credits.
As for the bridges project, officials are hoping by Spring of 2012 to have the final approval to move forward.
They say the target is to have a contract be given to a contractor by August of 2012.
Another public hearing will be held Tuesday, December 20th from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Lakeview, 505 Marriott Dr., Clarksville, Indiana.
People can also make comments at www.kyinbridges.com
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