Louisville, KY (WDRB) -- Crews are working hard clearing the way for the East End Bridge. A lot of progress is being made on the project. Construction equipment is out and dozens of trees have been cleared.
Giant mulch piles are all that's left after the trees have been cleared along I-265 North, near U.S. 42. Crews say the mulch will soon be either hauled away or spread out.
The Indiana Department of Transportation says crews are also demolishing vacated buildings in the path of the Ohio River Bridges Project.
Greg Prince with INDOT says, "It has been a long time coming and so that's why everybody is so enthusiastic. We've gotten so much positive feedback from everyone in the community and we're just anxious to see this underway."
After years of talk, the project is moving full speed ahead and is on schedule. The next step is seeding all of the land that was cleared.
Prince says, "Then, we'll start a little more major construction work beginning early summer which consists of tunnel excavation work as well as pier construction for the main span crossing it."
The East End Crossing will complete an interstate loop around Louisville by connecting the Gene Snyder Freeway with I-265 in Indiana. The tunnel excavation is expected to be the more difficult part of the project.
Prince says, "We're not expecting a lot of noise, but obviously we'll work within their ordinance and obey their ordinance they have in place."
Two meetings are being held for the public to learn more about the project. The first one is on Tuesday at Springdale Community Church. It's from 5-7 p.m. The next meeting is on Wednesday also from 5-7 pm, but it's at the John Nobel Woods Utica Community Center.
Prince says, "At these public open houses, we'll have project officials on site to answer any questions that the public may have"
The East End Bridge project is expected to be finished in October of 2016.
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