Mustang Daily

As someone who has lived in Louisville, Jeffersonville, and New Albany I feel that I am uniquely qualified to answer this question. From a strictly ecomonomic viewpoint both 8664 and The Ohio Rivers Bridges plan will greatly benefit Indiana. Major commercial and residential development will result as a result of improved infrastrucure. Improved access to Kentucky will increase employment options, incomes, and the size of the local tax base. In particular, the long desired east end bridge/265 connector will be built right next to the old Army Ammunition plant which will be developed into a massive industrial/business park. In the current, federally approved, Ohio River Bridges plan there will be a new bridge built downtown that will damage a very nice part of historic downtown jeffersonville. 8664 would only require the existing Kennedy bridge downtown, saving downtown jeffersonville the eyesore of more elevated concrete and traffic noise. The backers of the OHB Plan would argue that only constructing the East end bridge would not adaquately address the downtown bridge problems and thus hold back the So. Indiana area. 8664 will route all through traffic (32 percent) around Louisville by moving 64 to Prospect and then across bridge into So. Indiana on what is now 265. This increase in travelers would result in a slight increase in business for hotels and gas stations in the more appropriate suburban districts. Traffic on 64 (whats is now called 265) in So. Indiana would increase slightly but could easily be handled afforadably (when compared with the OHB plan) by adding a lane in each direction. The Kennedy bridge problems would be fixed because of the reduced traffic load and a rebuilt spaghetti junction that would move traffic much faster. The rebuilt spaghetti junction will connect with a riverfront
parkway along Waterfront park that will greatly improve the appearence and experience of the Louisville Riverfront and the downtown as a whole. In the discipline of urban planning the waterfront expressway has come to be recognized as something to avoid at all costs and Louisville has a once in a lifetime chance to fix this problem. In the long run the So. Indiana area benefits by the development of Louisville and 8664 will improve the image and economy of the city and thus the region as a whole.

I don't agree that no consideration has been given to how Southern Indiana will be impacted. Excuse the generalization, but Southern Indiana (and most of Louisville) has wanted an East End Bridge for decades. 8664 is the fastest, most cost effective way to build the East End Bridge. The anti EE Bridge contingent is still pushing hard for the downtown portion of the project in the hope that it will derail the EE Bridge. They also are responsible for adding $250 Million to the cost of the EE Bridge by requiring a tunnel. It's a political slight of hand that we are working hard to overcome.

We think 8664 is a win-win for the entire region. The EE Bridge is built, creating a stronger regional economy (KY & IN) and (the part I like most...) we regain our historic connection to the Ohio River. Creating a vibrant, livable downtown will attract the kind of people and jobs we want in this region for future generations.
Watch the presentation and make up your own mind. http://www.8664.org

Originally posted by

Jerry Moyes

I'm appalled that no consideration is given to how Southern Indiana will be impacted, or how Indiana residents may feel about this proposal. Sure Louisville's waterfront would look much better, but what of the waterfronts in Clarksville, Jeffersonville, and New Albany? Have you given though to what this would do to the "historic" waterfront areas in Indiana, the waterfront parks, traffic, air quality, and noise levels? Sure, I understand those in East Louisville, and in Downtown Louisville would love this, but what of us in Indiana; are we a lesser people, deserving a lesser consideration?