Tolls for I-69 Bridge
By: Import User
Updated: January 3, 2008
The cost of an I-69 bridge connecting Evansville and Henderson has Kentucky law makers mulling over a bill that could authorize tolls future road projects.
It cost the state more than 70 million dollars, and took more than 15 years to build the Natcher Bridge, the last major span across the Ohio River. But the cost of bridge building has skyrocketed since it was finished in 2002.
Now the state is looking at six billion dollars worth of bridges for Louisville and Northern Kentucky, and $1 billion for the I-69 crossing.
A measure pre-filed in Frankfurt by state senator David Williams would allow local governments to set up public infrastructure authorities.
Those authorities could then sell bonds for projects like bridges, and use toll revenue to pay them off.
Henderson Chamber of Commerce president George Warren thinks Kentuckians would support tolls if it means quicker bridge construction.
"Money is so competitive for road projects that theyre going to have to come up with something like this," said Warren
The measure will be considered when the General Assembly convenes later this month.
