Despite claims by some that the ORBP has no funding, the project has received a total of $411 Million from Frankfort in the four years leading up through 2010. That means we already have nearly half the funds to complete the East End Bridge ($940 Million).
This begs the question "Where's the money?" There is no construction in progress. There are no reports of right-of-way purchases. What are they doing with all that money?
Another development that could expedite the East End Bridge is President-elect Obama's massive stimulus package. Obama said, "We'll put people back to work rebuilding our crumbling roads and bridges..." It is likely to be the biggest infusion of cash into infrastructure projects since Roosevelt's New Deal in the 1930s.
Specifically the new administration is targeting projects that can get underway quickly. The East End Bridge is just such a project. It already has Federal approval, it would employ thousands of people and it's relatively affordable (as compared to the misguided 23 lane Spaghetti Junction).
But back to the stimulus package, it could also be devastating if the funds were used to proceed with the bloated 23-lane Spaghetti Junction. We also need to be concerned about the current push for a tolling authority to fund the ludicrous interchange. Why should we pay for something we don't even want? It makes no sense and we need your help to ensure we build the one bridge we need.
Contact your state representatives, senator and councilperson and tell them you don't want a 23 lane Spaghetti Junction. Ask them to support building the East End Bridge first and foremost. Only then can we make 8664 happen.
Our Take Action page has all the information you need.
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My family doesn't see any concern from 8664.org for the future impact this proposed project would have on the current I-265/I-65 interchnage in Indiana. All of Louisville's cross-region freight and commuter traffic will be going through this interchange, which I'm not sure has the capacity to handle this much stress. 15-20 years down the road, are we going to be looking at another 8664 plan, with Southern Indiana being the focus? What then? Why don't we just build the East End Bridge, and forget tearing up downtown and tearing down current infrastructure? If 8664.org is okay with throwing all of our cross-region traffic onto Southern Indiana, it should be okay with at least keeping already-built interstates intact and as-is, and not destroying them.