Welcome to your ORX Quarterly Connection! The quarterly newsletter will provide updates on the I-69 Ohio River Crossing (ORX), a transformational project that will connect Evansville, IN and Henderson, KY.
This newsletter isn’t just about concrete and steel; it’s about you—the commuters, businesses, and families—who rely on efficient transportation. Subscribers will receive project news, traffic updates, and behind-the-scenes glimpses into the project straight to their inboxes. Together, we’re building more than a bridge; we’re forging connections that will shape our region’s future. Stay tuned for our September edition.
Improvements extend from KY 425 to US 60 with significant progress throughout the corridor. Construction started in August 2022 and is expected to reach 75 percent completion by the end of this year.
Get ready to mark your calendars! A public meeting is expected in July to provide a project update and prepare drivers to be Roundabout Ready. Six new roundabouts are being built in Henderson to promote lower speeds and reduce conflict points, leading to improved performance.
The first two roundabouts west of US 41 at KY 351/2nd Street are expected to open to traffic before the start of the new school year in August. Visit I69OhioRiverCrossing.com to learn more about roundabouts. While there, be sure to sign up for project updates to be notified when the meeting date is set.
The centerpiece of the project, the new I-69 bridge, is expected to begin construction in 2027 with completion scheduled for 2031. Preconstruction activities will begin next year. Indiana and Kentucky are committed to this important project, and both states are looking for opportunities to accelerate the timeline.
Many people have asked about the design for the new bridge. That information won’t be known for a while. The river crossing is expected to be a design-build contract. That means that design is finalized after a contractor is selected. The bridge design is expected to be known closer to the start of construction in 2027.
Progress will soon be seen in Indiana, with construction beginning later this summer. Work in Evansville includes part of the approach roadways and bridges that will provide all-weather construction access to the river for the future I-69 bridge. Construction is expected to be complete in late 2026.
Work in Indiana is setting the stage for crews to build the new I-69 bridge. With this area in a floodway, crews need access to the river to build the I-69 bridge. The roads and bridges being built now will provide that vital access to crews. The three new bridges in Indiana will be used by the public after the I-69 bridge is complete and open to traffic.
