As the last phase of Interstate 69’s Evansville-Indianapolis connection concluded last year, roadwork returned to the River City — this time, headed the other direction.
Since breaking ground on the Indiana approach to a still-to-come bridge in September 2024, Evansville-based Traylor Bros, Inc. and Chicago, Illinois-based Walsh have altered farmland, built substructures, and laid foundations for three connections to a four-lane approach to the bridge. Known as Section 3 of the Ohio River Crossing (ORX), the project draws heavy traffic away from U.S. 41’s Bi-State Vietnam Gold Star Memorial Bridges and off the stoplight-laden strip through Henderson, Kentucky. “The work now will provide all-weather construction access to the river to build the future I-69 bridge,” says I-69 ORX spokesperson Mindy Peterson.
The north-south construction site in Indiana spurs off an east-west stretch of I-69 south of the city between Weinbach Avenue and Green River Road. Crews spent the spring driving steel piles into the ground to stabilize the piers that will support the bridge approach. Next, construction crews will form two embankments to aid with moving equipment to take beams and bridge decks to their install spots. Drivers will experience 10- to 15-minute rolling closures three days a week through September on U.S. 41 while crews transport beams to the site.
“As the beams are set, drivers will see the three overpass bridges taking shape as they drive by the worksite,” Peterson says. The public will not use the three approach connections until Section 2 construction on the bridge concludes in 2031. Neighboring residents and businesses have grappled with construction noise and thousands of tons of materials being stored and transported nearby. “There’s been a tremendous amount of outreach,” Peterson adds, including meetings with advisory committees, public meetings and hearings, and coordination with local, state, and federal agencies as well as stakeholders. The I-69 ORX team also updates the public via social media channels and newsletters.
Officials predict Section 3 will be 60 percent completed by late 2025 and fully completed by 2026, with four years of bridge construction starting in 2027. Meanwhile, Section 1 construction in Henderson should finish this year, with drivers already navigating three roundabouts at the new interchange at U.S. 60 and I-69.
“We’ve been talking about this bridge for so many years now,” Peterson says. “It’s a super interesting project to see unfold and see all of the progress being made.”
