Owensbro Future I-69 Spur

Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear was in Owensboro today to officially recognize the Audubon Parkway as a future I-69 spur. The Audubon will intersect with the new interstate, putting Owensboro at the crossroads of two major highways. Lawmakers and members of the business community gathered to celebrate what this project will do for Owensboros growth. " Jody Wassmer is the president of the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce. He says its about time Owensboro made it onto the interstate map. "Its trying to correct what was wrong with the interstate map when it was originally drawn, Daviess County was left off as well as most of western Kentucky. The Audubon is a great chance to fix that. On lookers were excited as the governor unveiled the "future I-69 spur" sign but the crowd wasnt left without some doubts-- Doubts as to whether lawmakers could come up with the money to actually see the project through. To them, Beshear says hell stop at nothing. "Were going to have to find a way to build the bridges, innovative ways well present these at the next general assembly." Beshear says federal government is expected to help states grow and improve their transportation systems. He says he feels the current administration hasnt made that a priority. He and Wassmer agree if Owensboro is going to keep up with the rest of the country, this project has to be realized. "Jobs and tourist go where the interstate goes thats the way America travels, right now you have to want to go to Owensboro to go. Turning the Audubon into and i-69 spur had been in the works for 3 years. President bush signed off on the project in early June. The governor says financing the spur road and other extensions of I-69 is a major project. He says its a project he would like to afford without having drivers pay a toll.