Bridge Panel Appointed

Kentucky’s appointees to a bi-state authority that will determine how to finance the $4.1 billion Ohio River Bridges Project have been announced by Gov. Steve Beshear and Louisville Mayor Jerry Abramson.

The seven Kentucky members will join with counterparts in southern Indiana next month to begin regular meetings to develop financing to build two bridges between Louisville and Indiana and to reconstruct a major interchange in downtown Louisville.

In a special session this year, the Kentucky General Assembly authorized creation of the bi-state authority. The governor has three statewide appointments and the Louisville mayor has four appointments from within Jefferson County.

Beshear appointed Joe Prather, former secretary of the Kentucky transportation cabinet; Charles Buddeke, president of Buddeke Industries Inc.; and Jamie Fiepke, president of the Kentucky Motor Transport Association.

Abramson appointed Sandra Frazier, founder of Tandem Public Relations; Charles Moyer, dean of the University of Louisville College of Business and Public Administration; Joe Reagan, chief executive officer of Greater Louisville Inc., the metro chamber of commerce; and Benjamin Richmond, CEO of the Louisville Urban League.

The bi-state authority is required to develop a time line for construction and a financial plan that must be approved by the newly appointed Kentucky Public Transportation Infrastructure ­Authority.

Kentucky’s share of the massive project has been estimated at $2.92 billion, while Indiana’s cost is estimated at $1.15 billion.

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Transportation industry Kentucky
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