A contract has been awarded to the design-build team of Ragle Inc. and Stantec Consulting Services Inc. to complete Section 1 of the I-69 Ohio River Crossing (ORX) between Henderson, Kentucky and Evansville, Indiana.
According to the project website, I-69 ORX Section 1 focuses on improvements in Henderson and extends from KY 425 to U.S. 60. Construction is expected to begin in early 2022 and continue through 2025. It will extend I-69 by more than 6 miles and includes interchanges with KY 351, U.S. 41 near Kimsey Lane, and at U.S. 60.
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) says it is overseeing work on Section 1. Ragle/Stantec was awarded the nearly $158 million construction contract after being identified as the apparent Best Value design-build team.
“These major projects are difference makers for our communities and our commonwealth,” Kentucky Transportation Secretary Jim Gray said in a statement. “We’re improving safety and mobility and the future I-69 Ohio River Crossing will mean new connections and opportunities for Western Kentucky.”
The environmental study for I-69 ORX was completed in September 2021 with a Record of Decision issued by the Federal Highway Administration.
I-69 ORX is divided into two sections for highway construction. I-69 ORX Section 2 is a bi-state project between Kentucky and Indiana that will complete the I-69 connection from US 60 in Henderson to I-69 in Evansville. It includes the new river crossing. Design is expected to begin in 2025 with construction anticipated to begin in 2027 and continue through 2031. Both states continue to look for opportunities to accelerate that timeline.
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SOURCE: Indiana DOT / Kentucky Transportation Cabinet
